The Case Against Fake News Gatekeeping by Social Networks

Abstract

Recent events such as Brexit and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election are said to have been partly attributable to the proliferation of fake news on the Internet. Studies have linked the proliferation of fake news to the engagement of actors in social networks, which raises the question on whether these platforms should actively prevent their use for the dissemination of false statements or reports, in a practice known as gatekeeping. This paper presents the case against fake news gatekeeping by social networks, which is based on three arguments: the threat to freedom of expression in the online space, the non-optimal position of social networks to curtail fake news, and the potential unintended result of proliferating fake news.

Keywords: Fake News, Gatekeeping, Echo Chambers, Digital Law, Social Networks, Freedom of Expression, Free Speech