World Press Freedom Day - PART IV Protecting Ourselves from Misinformation, Disinformation and Misuse of AI


-Image generated by Microsoft Copilot

How Users can Protect Themselves

While Governments and tech companies scramble to stem the tide of misinformation and trust in media continues to decline, here are some things which we can do to protect ourselves and those near and dear to us.

1. Question Everything -

Don’t take what you see and hear on face value, especially when it comes to political advertising. Australia doesn't even have laws to protect us from "materially misleading content” during an election campaign, though some states such as SA and the ACT, have begun to enact their own legislation.

Correct misinformation where possible, quoting reliable sources – via Community Notes on Facebook and Twitter and in comments under YouTube videos.

2. Learn the Art of Critical Thinking –

Ask what is this post about? Is it to inform, entertain or to persuade?

See if there are other perspectives. If you see more than one account about an issue, check the sources. Who is saying it? When did they say it?

In the scientific field particularly, things move very fast. What was true five years ago, may not be true now. Think of the early studies which linked eggs to cholesterol and heart disease. With more detailed research, this has been found to be far more complex and not always true.

Is it creditable? Based on science? Or just an opinion? See for yourself if possible. That's what they tell young reporters. If someone says it's raining and another person says it's sunny. Go outside and have a look. Does it fit with your own experience?

Check as many sources as you can. ChatGTP may help here. Just because someone is an authority in one field does not mean their opinion is valuable in another. What does the scientific literature say? Ask ‘What do they stand to gain?’ Are they appealing to my emotions – anger, pity, fear, fear of missing out (FOMO), the desire to avoid pain? Understand when satire is being used too.

Check for Bias. On YouTube this week there were 6 articles critical of renewable energy. All have been posted within the last few days and have high quality production values which tends to lend them credibility.

A quick check reveals that one is by a conservative electrical engineer, who is pro nuclear. Three are by a conservative pro -nuclear journalist, either interviewing a former politician who previously had close ties to the gas industry or is being interviewed by him. At least three of them are about the high cost of renewables and the cost of achieving Net Zero. Nowhere does it mention the equally high and uncertain cost of nuclear or how this would bring down power prices. It also contradicts the conclusions reached by our scientific community that renewable energy is the most cost effective option for Australia.

The short weekly Program Media Watch on Australia's ABC, is very helpful when it comes to understanding some of the ways in which our media is being distorted. Think of the glossy travel shows, whose presenters receive fully paid vacations for example, or more seriously, a recent discussion about our defence needs with someone insisting that we need drones, while failing to declare a commercial interest in that technology. For those with short attention spans, back editions of Media Bites will serve much the same purpose. Check out this one about AI.

3. Learn to Fact Check –

Learn to use the tools available for verification of facts and images. AI sites such as Microsoft's Copilot, ChatGTP or Grok will usually give you a quick answer but cross check them as well. If you are still unsure, sites like FactCheck.org, Snopes, or Bellingcat, may be able to help.

True of False? - Answer at the end of this post*

4. Image Verification -

Use Google Verify Reverse Image Search or TinEye to see where an image originated or if it has been altered. See more tools for verifying images here.

5. The usual rules about scams apply -

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You most likely have NOT won a lottery you haven't entered, nor received a large sum of money from a wealthy benefactor or distant relative you didn’t know, but who needs your bank details in order to send it to you.

Don’t click on links in emails. Does the email address look odd? If an email says you must contact your bank or insurance about something, go to their website or ring them directly. I have written about this before and you can see more detail here.

6. Protect your personal information -

Don’t answer random calls and DO put yourself on the DO NOT CALL REGISTER. If you are expecting a call and they don’t leave a message, simply Google the number or check the number against Reverseau in Australia, or similar sites elsewhere – see the long post about this here, before calling back. If the number is suspicious, report it on those sites.

Don’t give out more personal information than absolutely necessary online, or on the phone.

Fun though those quizzes and surveys may be, unless you have just done business with that company, each one is telling whoever is gathering the information more about you, which will be used to create psychological profiles which could be used to persuade you more effectively. Other countries have laws against using your data for purposes other than that needed to provide you with a given service and against selling or passing it on to third parties. We should have them too.

7. Arming young people -

Because young people get so much of their information online, it is essential to teach them how to become discerning consumers of media – make them 'Digital Detectives' as the BBC series on this topic so aptly calls it. Luckily, many schools are already doing this and many young people are already much more media literate than their parents. If that isn't happening where you live, then there are some good resources online here or here. There is no reason why parents and other adults aren't doing this all the time, as part of our daily life.

8. Raise awareness -

Do other members of your family and friends know what is happening? Help them to understand and call on your elected representatives to do more to protect us all.

I am particularly concerned about people who left school before Computer Literacy became an essential life skill since they are often the most vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.

Some libraries are taking up this challenge. While there are a number of courses online to teach this, UNESCO has an excellent free program “Freedom of Expression, AI and Elections” run by the Knight Center for Journalism in Texas. It is available in several languages – French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and English. With more than 24 countries going to elections this year. It’s more important than ever.

Veronika Wild

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