THE LIMITS OF FACT CHECKING: EIGHT NOTES ON CONSENSUS REALITY

Authors

  • Otávio Vinhas University College Dublin, Ireland
  • Marco Bastos University College Dublin, Ireland; City, University of London, United Kingdom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/spir.v2021i0.12258

Keywords:

fact-checking, misinformation, disinformation, social media, institutional crisis

Abstract

In this study, we review the literature on fact-checking and the empirical evidence contending that it can correct prior knowledge and false information. We posit that the growing fact-checking industry is detached from the mis – disinformation landscape and outline eight fundamental problems with fact-checking revolving around epistemology, implementation, bias, efficacy, ambiguity, objectivity, ephemerality, and criticism. We discuss these shortcomings in relation to the establishment of fact-checking agencies across the world and their role in national elections in the United Kingdom, United States, Malaysia, and Brazil. The article concludes with a discussion on the extent to which fact-checking may be effective against false information in a context where consensus reality has been super-imposed by individual reality.

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Published

2021-09-15

How to Cite

Vinhas, O., & Bastos, M. (2021). THE LIMITS OF FACT CHECKING: EIGHT NOTES ON CONSENSUS REALITY. AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research, 2021. https://doi.org/10.5210/spir.v2021i0.12258

Issue

Section

Papers V