Investigative Analysis
Rooting Out Fake News
The rise of fake news is one of the remarkable growth stories of the past decade. Just a few years ago, the phrase was meaningless. Today, according to multiple surveys, it is seen as a greater problem than climate change or terrorism.
Investigative Analysis
Rooting Out Fake News
The rise of fake news is one of the remarkable growth stories of the past decade. Just a few years ago, the phrase was meaningless. Today, according to multiple surveys, it is seen as a greater problem than climate change or terrorism.
But remarkable as that may seem, it’s not actually what’s most interesting. We all have deeply divergent views about fake news and different responses to it, which suggest that emphasis on misinformation could run the risk of making people even less well informed. More than making people believe false things, the rise of fake news is making it harder for people to see the truth.
That’s where our analysts can—and often do—play a critical role. For many of our clients, cutting through the noise of what’s real and what’s fake on social media can mean the difference between success and failure. Especially when rumors about a foreign leader are spread across social media, whether or not to trust the news and how and when to respond can impact closely guarded alliances.
That was the case for one of Atlas’s clients. Our team of analysts informed them of rumors about one of their regional allies and provided evidence that those propagating the rumors were, in fact, bogus actors. As a result, the client was able to help end the speculation and was seen as a true partner to the rumored ally.