FIGHTING FAKE NEWS A STUDY OF ONLINE MISINFORMATION REGULATION IN THE ASIA PACIFIC Prepared and Written by ANDREA CARSON ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (JOURNALISM) DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS, MEDIA & PHILOSOPHY, LA TROBE UNIVERSITY with LIAM FALLON Prepared for FACEBOOK, AUSTRALIA A FACEBOOK RESEARCH PROJECT latrobe.edu.au JANUARY 2021 Fighting Fake News: A Study of Online Misinformation Regulation in the Asia Pacific A First Published 2021 By La Trobe University Crn of Plenty Rd and Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, Melbourne, Australia 3086 © 2021 selection and editorial matter, Andrea Carson This work was funded by Facebook. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. 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B La Trobe University Table of contents Executive summary ................................................................................................... iv Key findings and conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... v Background ................................................................................................................................................................. vi Thematic findings .......................................................................................................................................................... vi Theme 1: What is online misinformation – and why is it a problem? .............................................................. vi Theme 2: Tackling misinformation online and its challenges .......................................................................... vii Theme 3: Potential remedies ................................................................................................................................... ix Fighting Fake News: A Study of Online Misinformation Regulation in the Asia Pacific . x Overview .......................................................................................................................................................................... xi Aim and report objectives ........................................................................................................................................ xi Background and Australian context....................................................................................................................... xii Method, scope and terminology ............................................................................................................................ xiii Chapter contents ...................................................................................................................................................... xiii About the Authors ........................................................................................................................................................ xvi Background chapters ............................................................................................... xvi Chapter 1 Indonesia’s approach to online misinformation ...........................................1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................2 Background and context ............................................................................................................................................3 The Government’s approach to tackling misinformation ....................................................................................4 Laws and regulations .................................................................................................................................................5 Government bodies ...................................................................................................................................................11 Timeline of Indonesia’s “fake news” laws and policies ......................................................................................12 Conclusion......................................................................................................................................................................13 Chapter 2 Singapore’s approach to online misinformation .........................................14 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................15 Background and context ..........................................................................................................................................15 The Government’s approach to tackling misinformation ..................................................................................16 Laws and regulations ...............................................................................................................................................16 The use of POFMA ...................................................................................................................................................19 Reactions to POFMA ................................................................................................................................................21 Timeline of Singapore’s “fake news” laws and policies .....................................................................................24 Conclusion......................................................................................................................................................................25 Chapter 3 The European Union: Approaches to online misinformation and disinformation ...................................................................................................26 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................27 Background and context ..........................................................................................................................................27 The EU Code of Practice ..........................................................................................................................................28 Action Plan against Disinformation .......................................................................................................................28 Assessments of the Code .......................................................................................................................................29 Reactions to the EU approach ...............................................................................................................................32 Other EU measures to tackle false information online ......................................................................................33 Member States’ initiatives .......................................................................................................................................34 Timeline of Europe’s “fake news” regulations and policies ...............................................................................35 Conclusion......................................................................................................................................................................36 Fighting Fake News: A Study of Online Misinformation Regulation in the Asia Pacific i Chapter 4 Australia’s approach to online misinformation ..........................................37 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................38 Background ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry ........................................................................................................38 ACMA position paper ................................................................................................................................................39 DIGI draft code: Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation ......................................................................41 Comparing ACMA and DIGI positions on a new code ......................................................................................44 Conclusion......................................................................................................................................................................45 Key Findings: Themes 1-3 ........................................................................................46 Chapter 5 What is online misinformation – and why is it a problem? .........................46 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................47 Definitions: Misinformation, disinformation and malinformation ....................................................................47 Identifying the scale and effects of online misinformation