Professor cautions that fact-checkers may not always possess the necessary expertise to evaluate content
The Australian Parliament is currently holding hearings regarding the Misinformation Bill which has passed the lower house.
During a Senate Committee hearing, Anne Twomey, a professor at the University of Sydney, emphasized that labeling something as “misinformation” does not necessarily mean it is false, even if experts have fact-checked it.
The Bill aims to enforce social media platforms to regulate misleading information on their platforms under the threat of fines. However, there are concerns that the Bill could stifle debate, with criticism from the federal opposition and independent MPs.
Twomey highlighted the reliance of social media companies on “fact-checkers” due to a lack of expertise in verifying information on their platforms.
In discussing her experience providing advice to fact-checkers, Twomey raised concerns about the lack of expertise and potential misinterpretations of information.
She also pointed out the challenges in the fact-checking process, including time pressure leading to distorted reports and the risk of contradicting consensus being labeled as misinformation.
The Bill has passed the lower house and is awaiting debate in the Senate.
