Lies, politicians, and social media: Should we fact check politicians?

Lies, politicians, and social media: Should we fact check politicians?

Author: UCL Political Science November 21, 2024 Duration: 30:10

Social media plays a significant role in shaping political debates and, some argue, even influencing election outcomes. Politicians increasingly use platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to communicate directly with the public and run their campaigns. However, this unfiltered communication can sometimes spread misinformation or undermine democratic values.

A prime example is incoming US President Donald Trump, who was famously banned from Twitter for glorifying violence but has since returned to X with Elon Musk at the helm. This raises critical questions:

  • How should social media companies handle inflammatory or false claims from politicians?
  • Can they continue to claim they are mere platforms, not publishers, despite the profound impact they have?
  • And, if they challenge politicians' statements, do they risk overstepping their role in a democratic society?

To explore these issues, we’re joined by Jeff Howard, a professor in this department and the Director of the Digital Speech Lab. Jeff co-authored a recent paper that dives deep into the responsibilities of social media companies when it comes to regulating political speech.
 

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