The BBC defines "fake news" as false information deliberately and intentionally published and shared- for profit or political gain.

The spread of misinformation through social media and private messaging apps has especially had dramatic and even fatal consequences around the world.

BBC research in Kenya, Nigeria and India found examples of the dangerous outcomes of sharing misleading news.

BBC Director of News, Jamie Angus, says the threat caused by "fake news" needs to be dealt with by improving media literacy:

Poor standards of global media literacy, the rise of state-backed disinformation, and the ease with which malicious content can spread unchecked on digital platforms mean there’s never been a greater need for an organisation like ours to take the lead."

BBC Director General, Tony Hall, says the organisation wants to go beyond talking about "fake news":

We won’t just talk about the challenges and distortions of fake news, this year we’ll take them on directly.We’re going to fight - publicly and globally - for news that people can trust and rely on."


Why does "fake news" matter?

·Erodes Trust

·Builds and feeds on community divisions

·Threat to a notion of truth.

·Toxic for mainstream media – all media the same equivalence

·Makes citizens less able to make decisions based on facts

·Toxic for public discourse

·Threats to health

·Worse case scenario – fuels hate speech, leads to violence and death

·Distorts democratic processes

·Weaponises information