Do companies like FB and Google have a responsibility to monitor misinformation and disinformation?

Facebook and Google Should Monitor Misinformation and Disinformation on their Networks

Social media has changed how people communicate in society because of the availability of many communication networks. The use of social media communication has become part of the everyday life of people in the community. However, the complexity of social media network creates a new type of security threat, with misinformation and disinformation being the most dangerous (Pierri et al. 2). Fake information ranges from recruitment, propaganda, and funding messages spread online, thus making users lose trust in online information (Pierri et al. 2). Therefore, companies such as Facebook and Google should monitor misinformation and disinformation in their networks to overcome the threat of false information in society.

Social networks enhance the spread of misinformation or disinformation in society because social media has become part of everyday life in society. This issue raises the question of the extent of information regulation of companies that provide social media services such as Facebook and Google (UNESCO 8). For example, with the current Covid-19 global pandemic, people may use social media networks to spread misinformation and disinformation, which may cause more harm to society. Consequently, social media service providers such as Facebook and Google should monitor users’ activities to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

Although misinformation and disinformation raise concerns for the involvement of companies that provide social media service in the monitoring and regulation of content, it is a significant threat to the freedom of speech and democracy. Social media users should resolve to fact-checking of information rather than blame social media service provider companies for failure to monitor data (Shao et al. 2). Nevertheless, leaving the responsibility of fact-checking of information in the hands of users will lower the consumers’ credibility in the social media networks, which may inhibit growth (Shao et al. 2). Accordingly, social media service companies should monitor and regulate misinformation and disinformation in their systems to promote growth.

“Works Cited

Pierri, Francesco, et al. “Investigating Italian disinformation spreading on Twitter in the context of 2019 European elections.” PLOS ONE, vol. 15, no. 1, 17 Jan. 2020, pp. 1–23, journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0227821. Accessed 5 Apr. 2020.

Shao, Chengcheng, et al. “Anatomy of an Online Misinformation Network.” PLOS ONE, vol. 13, no. 4, 27 Apr. 2018, pp. 1–23,

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). “Journalism, Fake News, and Disinformation.” UNESCO Series on Journalism Education, 2018, pp. 1–122,”