Fake news spreads fast and Internet has its dark side that everyone should be aware of, said speakers at a national conference organised by Gandhi School of Humanities and Social Sciences, a branch of GITAM University, in association with Public Relations Society of India (PRSI), Hyderabad, and Press Club-Hyderabad, here on Thursday.
“Six players – Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet (owners of Google and its subsidiaries), Alibaba and Netflix – control the Internet and they decide what we see and read. In the last one decade, the Internet penetration has increased. While there are 70 crore cell phones in India, the number of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) has crossed more than one crore. In urban areas, we have more SIM cards than people,” observed Paranjoy Guha Thakurtha, a journalist and commentator, while delivering the keynote address.
Though Internet services have been available since the past 27 years, its impact has increased in the last one decade, he said, adding that major players in the field have been trying to control the media, as government advertisement was one of the main revenue sources for them. Mr. Paranjoy Guha said fake news was spreading faster than facts with more people being active on social media platforms. He mentioned how the dates for Lok Sabha elections were circulated online though there has been no announcement by the officials concerned about the same. He said over 30 people died owing to fake news that was circulated on social media.
K. Nageswar, a professor, said fake news mill was highly active and to counter it, independent media can function online without much resources. “I started my Youtube channel in January and made $60. In December, I made $4,000,” he said, adding that journalists can always raise their voice against injustices on behalf of people.
Professors N. Siva Prasad, D. Suresh Kumar of GITAM, P. Venugoapl Reddy of PRSI and others were present.
