المجلة الدولية للاتصال الاجتماعي
Volume 7, Numéro 5, Pages 138-148
2020-10-29

Fake News: Disinformation And Infodemy As Possible Threats To Democracy

Authors : João Francisco Da Mota Junior .

Abstract

In recent years there has been a growing global debate on fake news, technically as "disinformation" and in recent months the expression "infodemic" coined by the WHO due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What these two terms have in common - and the object of this study - is the relationship they have with freedom of expression and the right to information, these fundamental and corollary rights of democracy. Disinformation is a worrying factor for democracy because they confuse and polarize citizens, generate a loss of credibility and confidence in the media, and distort the content of the public debate. Therefore, it is essential to think about a revised education in the Information Age and media literacy.

Keywords

Disinformation, Infodemic, Threats, Democracy.