„Fake news” – disinformation in online media and the fight against it in the international arena

Abstract

“Post-truth” was labeled as the most important word of the year 2016 by Oxford Dictionaries’ editorial board. The issue is directly linked to the growing phenomenon of „fake news”. In the age of rapidly developing online media, dissemination of distorted and untranslated information is becoming easier and more intense. This is facilitated by content distributed by social media users and, unfortunately, mainstream media. This phenomenon may also contribute to the intensification of disputes between political actors, political unrest, and impact on campaigns or election results. Ultimately, it can lead to the manipulation of international public opinion. 
The aim of the article is to present the role transnational technology companies play in disseminating „fake news”. Initiatives taken by selected parties to reduce this practice will be presented and characterized.