Remember receiving photos of overcrowded markets during the peak of the pandemic, only to find out that the photo was taken even before the existence of Covid-19? As much as we would like to believe otherwise, even the best of us have fallen victim to the pitfalls of the (mis)information age. In fact, a 2017 study showed that 82.7% of Malaysian internet users trust health-related information found online, regardless of the source!
In view of the increasing challenges, Google Malaysia has doubled in their efforts to safeguard their users, with their Trust and Safety teams constantly on the lookout for threats of phishing, conspiracy theories, malware and misinformation, amongst others. From content removal on YouTube and ad-blocking on Google Ads, to collaborating with thought leaders, the news industry, and fact-checking initiatives across the region (including Malaysia), the work never ends.
In line with Google Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to help people spot misinformation (and in conjunction with International Fact-Checking Day on 2nd April), makchic sat down with Google Malaysia’s Communications Manager, Nadia Khan, to find out how we can debunk false news and protect ourselves and our loved ones from misinformation.
Fact Checking 101
What are some red flags we should look out for that might suggest something is “too good to be true”, or that the information we’re reading is inaccurate?
Nadia: For fact-checkers, there are essentially five questions they ask themselves when reading the news. You can put these questions into practice too, so you can also spot when something shouldn’t be trusted:
1. What is the source?
Make sure you know where the news comes from. Do not share if you cannot locate or verify the original source.
2. Can I trust this source?
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Look for official primary sources of information, like reputable media or government websites, and that the article backs up its claims with links to sources, photos and videos.
3. Who is the “expert”?
Separate the experts from the emotional opinions. Check that the claims are being made by people with recognised authority on the subject.
4. Is it telling me to do something (like, share, subscribe, buy?)
Dramatic “unreported” stories are often a play for social media engagement, valuable to someone with a monetised account.
5. Is it shocking, or trying to drum up fear or hate?
Sadly, there are people who spread potentially harmful and wrong information to cause hurt or mischief. Think before you share!
How should we fact-check information that’s available online? Are there any specific methods or practices you would recommend?
Nadia: Fact-checking isn’t just for the professionals. We can all be guardians of the web, and do our part to confirm or refute a piece of information. If you come across an article that might seem inaccurate and you have doubts about this, always, always check the source before sharing anything.
At Google, we suggest using these tips:
We share more tips on how to spot misinformation on our blog.
Awareness Among the Elderly
Could you share specific tips on how we can speak to our elderly family members about misinformation in an easily digestible manner? What key areas should we focus on, and what questions could we pose to prompt a discussion?
Nadia: Our elderly family members are vulnerable to misinformation, and I’d love to use this opportunity to remind all of us to do our best to safeguard them by verifying information before we share, calling out information that we know isn’t credible when they share it with us, and also teaching them a few new tricks.
1. Empathise and demonstrate
It all starts with empathy in my opinion. They grew up in a time where the world was perhaps much simpler than ours, before the internet, and they had a handful of trusted news sources. So to them, they had no choice but to believe everything that they read, saw and heard.
Our ‘superpower’, if you will, is that we grew up with the internet. It’s instinctive to us to go online and search for more information; we inherently have the skills. We can show them how easy it is to create content online, and remind them that just because it’s written somewhere, doesn’t mean it’s true.
2. Diversify
The other tip is to diversify their news sources, and help them stay up to date on topics that interest them. I personally do this with my parents. I know what they’re interested in, and when I find an article that is credible and verified, I’ll share it with them. This not only gives them a diversity of views, but it helps them stay current. So, if they were to receive messages that are not credible, there’s a chance they won’t be so quick to believe it.
3. Be Patient
And finally, be calm and patient. Change won’t happen overnight, but repetition helps. Remind them about what you’ve discussed before, show them when a piece of information is false, and do so kindly. Most times, they are quick to share any information with us, because it’s an act of love and concern. Likewise, we could approach this in the same manner, and show them that we’re looking out for their welfare and wellbeing.
What remedies or recourse to action do I have if a loved one has fallen prey to misinformation? How can I help to correct this false belief, or report misinformation online?
Nadia: The Internet has enabled people to learn, connect and express themselves in ways we couldn’t have imagined in the past. Even in the pandemic, it has helped all of us continue to work, for students to learn, and for us to keep in touch with our families, for example. We need to keep expanding those opportunities. But, we also need to help everyone, young and old, to explore the Internet with confidence as they come online.
As part of that, we must work hard to ensure everyone, especially vulnerable communities like kids and the elderly, are equipped with the right media literacy skills, including fact-checking. As such, Google, together with the ASEAN Foundation, recently launched a comic book entitled Digital Literacy 101 (Celik Digital 101) to illustrate how misinformation can spread, and what to do to prevent it.
Speak Up and Report
On that note, Google also takes inappropriate content seriously. If you see content on a Google product that you believe violates the law or your rights, let us know. We’ll review the material and consider blocking, limiting, or removing access to it. Behaviours like phishing, violence, or explicit content may also violate our product policies and qualify for removal from Google products. Before creating a request, try to flag the content in the relevant product.
On YouTube, we rely on the YouTube community members to report videos, channels, or contents that they find inappropriate. Reporting content is anonymous, so other users can’t tell who made the report. When something is reported, it’s not automatically taken down. Reported content is reviewed along the following guidelines:
a) Content that violates our Community Guidelines is removed from YouTube; and
b) Content that may not be appropriate for younger audiences may be age-restricted.
Media Literacy: Equipping the Family
How does improving our media literacy help to combat misinformation? What are some ways that families can help to improve their media literacy skills?
Nadia: While we are aware that technology enhances our lives, it does come with a lot of challenges, like learning to communicate responsibly, being kind online, and deciphering what is real and what is fake. By improving our media literacy skills, we could stop ourselves from falling for misleading information, or at least to know when something is not being reported correctly. It is also a really important skill for kids to have and develop with practice, and the best place to start is at home.
As kids spend more time on the internet, online safety becomes an important chapter in their lives. Google’s Be Internet Awesome program, developed in collaboration with online safety experts, provides tools for kids, parents and educators, including a free web-based game and a classroom curriculum, to help teach these lessons through hands-on practice.
Be Internet Awesome is like an instruction manual for making smart decisions online. Kids today need a guide to the internet and media, just as they need instruction on other topics. We need help teaching them about credible sources, the power of words and images, and more importantly, how to be smart and savvy when seeing different media while browsing the web.
Whether you’re teaching kids to be safe online, setting up parental controls, or searching for quality content, this site is for you.
In summary
Nadia: Dealing with misinformation is an ongoing challenge. We tackle that challenge at different levels – from working to be a good partner and collaborator to newsrooms, to ensuring we surface highly authoritative news sources for users looking for quality information on Search.
However, there is no silver bullet or singular effort that will eradicate this problem in a world where the web is constantly changing. This is why, for starters, digital literacy and equipping ourselves with the knowledge and resources that are available online to help us verify information is so important. And for the long-term, it will take the whole ecosystem to work together.
The contents of this interview have been edited for clarity and brevity.
#FactCheckingisEssential (and that’s a fact!). For more information, check out Google Malaysia’s blog, or our previous article on how we can help to stop the spread of misinformation.
