The Straits Times reports:

More than five years after the outbreak of Covid-19, most of us still remember the shape of the pandemic. It started small and distant. Then it passed from one person to another quickly, and we often did not even know we were spreading it.

Today’s misinformation epidemic has the same shape: Fake news spreads quickly, and those “infected” by a rumour are often unaware it is untrue before passing it on to others.

The “pink salt trick”, a weight-loss method claiming the effectiveness of consuming Himalayan salt, was circulating on TikTok. It is not backed by science and is risky for those with certain health conditions. Another common claim — that chemical sunscreen is toxic — is untrue and stops people from protecting their skin against sun damage.

The spread of fake news is not unique to the 21st century. But the internet, social media and especially AI are turning it into a crisis.

The World Economic Forum says fake claims are one of the greatest threats the world faces today, alongside geoeconomic conflict, societal polarisation and climate change. The World Health Organization has called the spread of health-related misinformation an “infodemic”.

That is why researchers are keen to understand how fake news spreads and what can be done to stop it. To do so, they do not just compare misinformation to a virus, but actually treat it like one.

Using the same models built to study outbreaks like the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers can simulate the online spread of false claims. [Continue reading…]