The arrival of social media suddenly gave everyone a voice to express their ideas publicly. While this democratization has great potential in allowing everyone to be heard, it has flooded the online landscape with overwhelming information. The work of journalists has changed dramatically as well; with the new model of news consumption pushing for constant novelty, media companies regularly rush to deliver more content in a shorter period, with less time to check for quality.
These factors led to the problem of online misinformation, where information that is wrong or gives a false impression is shared publicly. Or disinformation, as false information that is deliberately posted. Misformation and disinformation are known as information disorder or the popular but politically charged term fake news. Although fake news has existed for a long time, the emergence of the Internet and social media has fueled it to have more serious consequences for the public. In the last decade, the information published online has proven that fake news can change dynamics on the ground in elections, revolutions, strikes, natural diseases, and pandemics; fake news can cause damage in real life.
This research addresses the multifaceted issue of fake news using Information Systems approaches. The thesis includes exploring the historical background and current state of fake news, analyzing the challenges that hinder solutions, and developing a model that empowers experts and engages users in fact-checking to combat the spread of misinformation. Concretely, the study is divided into four key areas of focus: firstly, comprehending the current "fake news problem" by scrutinizing its evolution in today's digital landscape. Secondly, it critically evaluates the challenges obstructing the development of effective solutions. Thirdly, it contributes to combating fake news by designing a knowledge transfer model. Finally, the research predominantly focuses on the technological and technical aspects of implementing and testing the model's efficiency in curbing the spread and impact of fake news.
Finally, the trajectory of this project has been marked by hard work but also rare opportunities, commencing with a Swiss Excellence Scholarship in 2017, which facilitated its initial development. Three years later, the project received two grants from the Swiss Innovation Agency, which allowed further development of the user testing sessions.
