Fake news

Fake news is false or misleading information that looks like real news. It can include things like made-up stories, old news shared as new, or reports that are twisted to mislead people. People share fake news for many reasons, such as to hurt someone’s reputation or to make money from ads.

Reporters with various forms of "fake news" from an 1894 illustration by Frederick Burr Opper

The term “fake news” started in the 1890s when some newspapers wrote sensational stories that weren’t true. Today, fake news spreads quickly, especially on social media like the Facebook News Feed. This happens because of things like people’s strong political beliefs and how social media websites show content.

Fake news can make it hard to know what’s really happening. Sometimes, made-up stories get more attention than real news, which can make people lose trust in serious reporting. Learning how to spot fake news and being careful about sharing information can help reduce its spread. One idea is to teach people how to recognize fake news before they see it, which is called prebunking.

Definition

Fake news is false or misleading information presented as news. The term became popular in 2017 and is used to describe any lies and misrepresentations, whether from a news source or not. Some people even use the term to dismiss credible news they disagree with.

The roots of "fake news" from UNESCO's World Trends Report

Fake news stories can appear among real news on websites or social media, often created for financial gain or to influence opinions. Some websites only publish fake stories, pretending they are true. Satirical sites may also label their content as fake or satire.

The spread of fake news is a concern because it can confuse people about what is true. It is often shared quickly on social media platforms, where many people get their news. This can lead to misunderstandings and a loss of trust in real news sources.

Types

Claire Wardle of First Draft News has described seven kinds of false news stories:

Satire or parody – jokes that might accidentally fool people.
False connection – headlines or pictures that don’t match the story.
Misleading content – using facts in a tricky way to change how people see something or someone.
False context – sharing true information but with the wrong explanation.
Impostor content – pretending to be a real source but sharing made-up stories.
Manipulated content – changing real pictures or facts to trick people, like editing a photo.
Fabricated content – making up a whole story to hurt or deceive someone.

Another type is called scientific denialism. This happens when people create false information to support beliefs they already have, even if the facts say something different.

Criticism of the term

In 2017, an expert named Wardle decided that the term "fake news" was not good enough to describe problems with information. She suggested using the terms "information disorder" and "information pollution" instead. She explained three main types of problems with information:

Misinformation: False information shared without meaning to harm.
Disinformation: False information created and shared to cause harm.
Malinformation: True information shared to cause harm.

Disinformation is especially harmful because it is made to trick people, sometimes by foreign groups trying to influence elections.

Because former President Donald Trump used the term "fake news" in a way that confused its meaning, some journalists and media experts said it should no longer be used. By late 2018, the term was considered unsuitable, and some companies were asked to stop using it.

In October 2018, the British government decided to stop using the term "fake news" in official documents because it was too vague and mixed up different kinds of false information.

Some researchers believe the term "fake news" makes the media seem like part of the problem. They suggest using clearer terms like "misinformation" to help people understand the many types of information online.

However, some studies still find the term "fake news" useful as a general idea, similar to "made-up news." Because of this, some groups, like the Aspen Institute in 2021, prefer the term Information Disorder as it is more neutral and informative.

Identification

To spot fake news, it helps to look for certain signs. These might include things like clickbait, propaganda, jokes or satire, messy journalism, tricky headlines, misleading information, and stories that spread quickly without clear sources.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions offers some good tips to help recognize fake news. They suggest asking questions like: Who made this? Are they trustworthy? What do other sources say? Is this story recent? Could this just be a joke? It’s also important to think about your own feelings and maybe ask someone knowledgeable for help.

Fake news can be hard to spot, especially online. Often, these stories come from websites that make up stories to get more clicks or to share incorrect information. They might use strong language to make people angry or confused. Some tools and websites, like Snopes, work to check facts and help people know what to trust.

Tackling and suppression strategies

Researchers are studying ways to fight false information, especially when it is shared on purpose to influence politics or upset communities. Different methods work better for different kinds of false news, whether it is made on purpose or by accident.

There are many tools to help stop false information. Websites and groups share updates and ideas to help people learn how to spot and handle false news. Some important groups include the First Draft Archive, the Information Futures Lab, and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.

One way to fight false information is by focusing on facts instead of feelings. When people repeat untrue stories, especially through famous leaders or media, it can make followers feel strongly about one side and distrust others. Sharing true facts widely, especially on social media, can help counter this. Teaching critical thinking in schools helps people judge information better. Critical thinking means learning to check if what you read is true and fair before you believe it or share it.

Another method is technique rebuttal. Instead of just giving true facts to fight false ones, this method shows how false claims use wrong reasoning, like picking only data that fits the story or trusting fake experts. Building trust by listening carefully and asking questions can help change some people’s minds.

Individuals can help by speaking up when they see false information online, even if just for a moment. This can teach others who read the response. However, it’s important not to give too much attention to false news on small websites, because talking about it in big places can make more people believe it.

When people who strongly believe something are given true facts to change their minds, sometimes it makes them believe even more strongly in what they already think. This is called the backfire effect. But later studies show this does not always happen. It often depends on what leaders and popular media say.

Social media companies have tried to limit false news. They sometimes show users content they like, which can make people more likely to believe false information. To fight this, companies like Facebook and Twitter, as well as search engines like Google, work on better ways to show true information and warn users about false posts.

During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, false news grew a lot. Fact-checking websites like Snopes.com and FactCheck.org help people learn to spot false news. Facebook and Google have taken steps to stop false news, but some think they need to do more.

After the 2016 election and before the German election, Facebook started labeling and warning about inaccurate news. They work with fact-checkers to review posts and stop them from being used in ads. In 2017, Facebook targeted accounts spreading false information about the French presidential election. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Facebook banned publishers using content from troll farms in North Macedonia and the Philippines.

In March 2018, Google started the Google News Initiative to fight false news. This includes supporting quality journalism, changing business models, and using technology to help news organizations. Google created tools to show more trustworthy content during big news events and to help people subscribe to news. In November 2020, YouTube suspended a news outlet for spreading false information about the coronavirus.

Many countries have made laws to go after people who spread harmful false news, especially about health issues like the COVID-19 pandemic. Some places have arrested people for sharing concerns or rumors about how diseases are spreading.

History

Ancient

Long ago, leaders sometimes told false stories to make themselves look better. For example, in the 13th century BC, a ruler named Ramesses the Great claimed he won a big battle called the Battle of Kadesh, even though it ended in a stalemate.

Roman politician and general Mark Antony killed himself because of misinformation.

During the first century BC, a leader named Octavian spread lies about his rival Mark Antony, calling him a drunkard and claiming he was controlled by a queen named Cleopatra. Octavian even shared a document that he said was Mark Antony’s will, though it might have been fake. These lies upset many people.

Medieval

In 1475, a story in Trent claimed that a Jewish community had hurt a young Christian child. This story led to many Jewish people being arrested and hurt. The Pope tried to stop the story, but it had already spread too far.

Early modern

A "lunar animal" said to have been discovered by John Herschel on the Moon

After the printing press was invented in 1439, many books and papers started appearing. There were no rules about what could be printed, so sometimes false stories were shared.

In the 1700s, some publishers in the Netherlands were fined for sharing fake news, and one man had to move cities four times to keep printing his stories. In America, Benjamin Franklin wrote fake news about Native Americans to support the American Revolution.

19th century

Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst caricatured as they urged the U.S. into the Spanish–American War

From 1800 to 1810, a man named James Cheetham used made-up stories to argue against a leader named Aaron Burr.

In 1835, a newspaper in New York published articles saying that an astronomer had found strange life on the Moon. Many people believed it until the newspaper later admitted it wasn’t true.

During the late 1800s, some newspapers used very exciting but misleading stories to sell more papers. This kind of reporting helped lead the United States into a war with Spain.

20th century

Fake news became more common in the 1900s as more people read newspapers and magazines. During World War I, some people shared false stories about Germany, like claims that they made soap from human fat. These stories were not true.

During World War II, leaders on both sides shared misleading information to influence people. After the war, some people still believed these false stories when reports about serious events came out.

21st century

In the 21st century, the Internet made it easier for fake news to spread quickly. Many websites and social media platforms share stories fast, sometimes without checking if they are true. Some people create fake news to make money from ads, while others share it to make people laugh through satire.

Studies show that older people and some political groups are more likely to share or believe fake news. Researchers have found that many people share these stories without checking if they are true.

Some leaders have also used fake news to influence public opinion. For example, in 2014, some groups used false information after a plane crash, and in 2016, many fake news stories appeared during an important U.S. election.

Researchers continue to study how fake news spreads and how to help people recognize it.

Special topics

Deepfakes and shallowfakes

Bots on social media

In the 1990s, people thought that news would become very personal, with each person seeing only what they liked. Today, computers called bots help spread news on social media. These bots can share fake news quickly because they don’t check if the news is true. This makes fake news spread faster online.

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have been places where fake news spreads a lot. Many people get their news from these sites, even though they are not real news sources. Fake news was especially talked about during the 2016 American Presidential Election because many people shared it without knowing it wasn’t true.

Internet trolls

Fake news hoaxes

Paul Horner created several fake news stories that many people believed. For example, he made up stories saying a famous artist was arrested or that he changed the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. These stories appeared near the top of Google searches and were shared widely on social media. Horner said he did this to make people think carefully about what they believe online.

By country

Europe

Austria

Politicians in Austria dealt with the impact of false information and its spread on social media after the 2016 presidential campaign. In December 2016, a court in Austria ordered Facebook Europe to block negative posts about Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek, the Austrian Green Party Chairwoman. These posts were spread by a fake profile and included harmful comments about the politician. The same profile had previously attacked Alexander van der Bellen, who won the election for President of Austria.

Belgium

In 2006, a French-speaking broadcaster showed a fake news report saying Belgium’s Flemish Region had declared independence. The report included staged footage to make it seem real, but a “Fiction” sign appeared 30 minutes in. The journalist said the purpose was to show how serious the situation could be if Belgium really split apart.

Czech Republic

Fake news outlets in the Czech Republic share stories in Czech and English from Russian sources. Czech president Miloš Zeman supported media outlets accused of spreading false information. The Centre Against Terrorism and Hybrid Threats, part of the Ministry of the Interior, works to fight false information and propaganda. It started in 2017 but faced criticism from President Zeman, who said it was like censorship.

European Union

In 2018, the European Commission introduced a voluntary agreement to fight false information. In 2022, this became a stronger shared responsibility between regulators and companies. It supports the Digital Services Act, which already has steps to fight false information.

Finland

In November 2016, officials from 11 countries met in Helsinki to plan a center to fight false information spread through cyber-warfare, including fake news on social media. The center would be in Helsinki and involve efforts from countries like Sweden, Germany, Finland, and the U.S. Prime Minister Juha Sipilä planned to discuss this with Parliament in Spring 2017. Deputy Secretary of State Jori Arvonen said cyber-warfare, like attacks from Russia and the Islamic State, was a growing problem in 2016, including fake news and disinformation.

France

Before 2016, France saw more far-right alternative news sources called the fachosphere. In September 2016, France tried to ban websites giving false information about abortion. During the 2017 presidential election, there was a lot of false information and propaganda, especially around election time. Facebook removed 30,000 accounts in France linked to fake political information. In April 2017, Emmanuel Macron’s campaign was attacked by fake news articles more than other candidates. His emails and documents were posted online and mixed with fake information to influence the election. Initially, it was thought to be linked to a Russian group, but later it was unclear who was responsible.

Germany

In November 2016, German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke about the problem of fake news in a speech. She said such sites harm political discussions and called for government action against internet trolls, bots, and fake news websites. She warned these sites increase support for extremist views. Germany’s intelligence chief Bruno Kahl warned of possible cyberattacks by Russia during the 2017 election, aiming to create chaos. Germany’s domestic intelligence chief Hans-Georg Maassen said Russian sabotage was a threat. Later, German officials said there was no Russian interference in the 2017 election. German journalist Claas Relotius resigned in 2018 after admitting to fraud in his reporting.

Hungary

Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán has accused George Soros, a financier and philanthropist, of plotting to undermine the country. This propaganda appeals to his right-wing supporters by creating fear and presenting himself as the nation’s protector.

Italy

Journalists in Italy must follow rules set by the Order of Journalists to ensure correct and truthful information. Under some conditions, spreading fake news can be a crime. Since 2018, people can report fake news on the Polizia di Stato website. The issue is monitored by the DIS, supported by AISE and AISI.

Malta

Malta introduced laws to fight the spread of false information. The law says anyone who spreads false information that could alarm the public or disturb order can be imprisoned for one to three months. If the false news causes disturbance, the punishment can be up to six months and a fine of up to €1,000. In early 2024, the Times of Malta published articles claiming a company was involved in illegal activities, but later investigations showed the claims were false.

Netherlands

In March 2018, the European Union’s East StratCom Task Force listed articles they thought were attempts by Russia to influence politics. However, three Dutch media outlets said they were wrongly included because they quoted people with non-mainstream views. This raised questions about what counts as fake news and how to protect free speech.

Poland

Polish historian Jerzy Targalski noted fake news websites in Poland that copied content from Russia Today. Poland’s Law and Justice government has been accused of spreading misleading information to weaken trust in the European Union. Some mainstream outlets have also been accused of sharing false or partly true information.

Romania

In March 2020, the Romanian President signed a decree allowing authorities to remove, report, or close websites spreading false information about the COVID-19 pandemic, with no chance to appeal.

Serbia

In 2018, reports described Serbian media as highly polarized, with a rise in fake news and pressure on journalists. Over 700 fake news articles were published by pro-government newspapers in 2018, often targeting the president and spreading support for Russia. Since the current government took power, there has been an increase in online attacks on critics and the free press.

Spain

Fake news has been a problem in Spain for a long time, but it wasn’t taken seriously until recently. A newspaper started a blog called ‘Hechos’ meaning ‘facts’ to focus on truthful news. The managing editor said many people believe fake news because the sites look similar and confuse people.

Sweden

In 2015, Sweden’s security service reported that Russia was spreading propaganda to support pro-Russian views and cause conflict. In 2016, Sweden’s Civil Contingencies Agency found fake news from Russia targeting Sweden. As a result, they planned to hire more staff to fight this fake information.

Ukraine

Since 2014, Ukrainian media have shared fake news and misleading images, often blaming Russia for the war. In 2015, a report criticized Russian disinformation campaigns against Ukraine. A group called StopFake was created in 2014 to correct fake news in Ukraine. In May 2018, Ukrainian officials announced a staged assassination of a journalist, which was later revealed to be fake news created by the highest officials.

United Kingdom

In 1702, Queen Anne issued a proclamation against spreading false news. In December 2016, the head of MI6 spoke about the danger of fake news to democracy. However, the term ‘fake news’ has been hard to define, as much of the content is not completely fake but used out of context or manipulated.

Asia

China

During the 2016 U.S. election, fake news spread to China. The Chinese government used this to justify more internet control. In March 2017, the People’s Daily denied reports about the torture of a lawyer, calling them fake news. The Chinese government often accuses Western media of bias.

Hong Kong

During the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, the Chinese government was accused of spreading fake news, describing protests as riots and claiming independence seekers. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube found misinformation spread by state-backed media and fake accounts. A pro-Beijing media site in Hong Kong was banned by Facebook for spreading fake news and hate speech.

India

Fake news in India has caused violent incidents between groups and affected policies. It often spreads through WhatsApp, which had 200 million users in the country by February 2017.

Jair Bolsonaro

Indonesia

Indonesia has seen more fake news and hoaxes on social media, especially around elections in 2014 and 2019. During the 2014 election, false claims spread that a candidate was of Chinese descent and a Christian. In 2019, both candidates faced fake news, and the government and groups worked to fight it.

Malaysia

In April 2018, Malaysia passed a law against fake news, making it a crime to spread misleading information, with up to six years in prison or fines. The law was controversial, especially since it was used by the then-prime minister, Najib Razak, who was linked to a financial scandal.

Myanmar (Burma)

In 2015, fake news about the Rohingya people led to violence against Muslims in Myanmar. As internet use grew, fake news spread quickly, especially from Facebook, causing real harm.

Pakistan

A minister threatened to attack Israel with nuclear weapons after a false story about an Israeli official.

Philippines

Fake news is common in the Philippines, especially on social media. Politicians have introduced laws to fight it, and the Catholic Church has spoken out against it. Research shows much fake news benefits certain political figures and attacks their critics.

Singapore

Singapore has laws against spreading fake news. In 2015, a fake report about the death of a leader went viral. In 2019, the government passed a law to fight fake news, allowing actions like linking to fact-checking or blocking websites. Critics worry it could limit free speech.

South Korea

South Korean media experts criticize how political tensions with North Korea affect news coverage. In 2018, prosecutors investigated a governor for allegedly spreading fake news about political rivals through a fake Twitter account.

Taiwan

Taiwan’s leaders accused China of spreading fake news on social media to influence elections. In 2015, a fake video about a reservoir led to unnecessary visits. Taiwan plans to teach students media literacy to recognize fake news.

Americas

Brazil

After the 2014 re-election and impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, Brazil saw more fake news. In 2016, three of the most-shared articles on Facebook during one impeachment vote were fake. In 2020, Brazil’s Supreme Court investigated a disinformation campaign by supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro. Facebook removed fake accounts linked to Bolsonaro’s offices, and videos falsely claiming treatments for COVID-19 were taken down.

Canada

In November 2016, Canadian politicians discussed fake news as part of helping local newspapers. In 2017, a Conservative leadership campaign admitted to spreading fake news, including false claims about Justin Trudeau.

Colombia

In 2016, fake news spread on WhatsApp affected votes in Colombia, especially about the peace accord with FARC rebels. The “no” campaign used social media to influence the vote, and fake news prolonged the debate and spread misleading views.

Mexico

Mexicans rely on social media for news. Before 2012, TV networks were central to politics and tied to the PRI party. By 2012, online disinformation campaigns grew, with politicians using digital strategies and trolls to amplify false messages. During the 2018 election, fake news and bots spread misinformation, and a group called Verificado 2018 worked to correct it. Since 2018, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has often targeted journalists in his speeches.

United States

Middle East and Africa

Armenia

In 2020, an Armenian website was reported to spread disinformation about the coronavirus, calling it a “fake pandemic.” The site was led by a doctor critical of the government’s health policies.

Israel and Palestinian territories

In 1996, fake news led to deaths during the Western Wall Tunnel riots. In 2018, an Israeli prime minister accused news outlets of spreading fake news the same day U.S. President Trump criticized fake news. Some fake news in Israel includes conspiracy theories about animals being used to spy.

Saudi Arabia

In 2018, Saudi state television was reported to have spread fake news about Canada, claiming Canada was the worst country for women. In 2018, Twitter suspended bot accounts spreading pro-Saudi messages about Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance. In 2019, Facebook removed accounts linked to Saudi Arabia and other countries for spreading fake news.

Syria

In 2017, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad called a report of mass hangings in a prison “fake news.” Russia ran a disinformation campaign during the Syrian Civil War to discredit rescue groups and chemical attack reports.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE has funded organizations and journalists to spread fake information against countries like Qatar. In 2020, an FDD researcher and MEF fellow contributed to a Fox News article promoting a negative image of Qatar.

Egypt

In 2010, an Egyptian official suggested Israel might be behind a shark attack. In 2017, it was estimated that 53,000 false rumors spread in 60 days mainly through social media.

South Africa

South African media have reported fake news as a problem used to increase distrust in media, discredit opponents, and distract from corruption. Media owned by the Gupta family have targeted others, including Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Oceania

Australia

The Australian Parliament investigated fake news during the 2016 U.S. election. In February 2021, a code of practice on disinformation and misinformation started. Despite support, the bill to enforce it failed to pass and was withdrawn in November 2024.

A known case of fake news in Australia happened in 2009 when a report by a “Levitt Institute” claimed Sydney was the most naive city, but the report was completely made up.

Misuse of term

The term fake news has sometimes been used to make people doubt true but negative stories. In some countries, laws called "fake news" laws have been used to stop negative news from being shared.

Donald Trump frequently mentioned fake news on Twitter to criticize the media in the United States, including CNN and The New York Times.

In the United States, former President Donald Trump often used the term fake news to describe any news he did not like, even if it was true. He said that news reports he did not like were "fake" or "hoax" news. This made it hard to know what news to trust.

In Russia, laws were passed to stop websites from sharing information the government thought was false. These laws also punished anyone who said things that insulted the government or its leaders. During the conflict in Ukraine, Russia made stricter laws to control what news could be shared about the military. This led many news organizations to stop working in Russia.