Russia Exports, Bans Fake News: Business Insider

Investigations by governments and internet companies point to Russian meddling during election campaigns, including the 2016 Brexit vote and the US presidential race, with outlandish social media messages and promotion of falsehoods. Yet, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law outlining penalties for distribution of whatever the state decides is fake news. “With this new law, Russia can ban information that it decides is false within its own borders while spreading objective falsehoods around the globe,” reports Business Insider, adding that “the country has been linked to spreading more fake news abroad than anywhere else.” The law allows blocking websites that don’t remove information deemed false by Russian authorities. Russia invests more than $1 billion annually in pro-Kremlin news sites, some purporting to be independent while spreading misinformation to instigate divisions in Europe and the United States. Internet companies like Facebook struggle to keep up in removing fake accounts used to spread incendiary tales. Those who do not practice critical reading skills are vulnerable to all forms of fraud. – YaleGlobal