1) What similarities do you notice between the different countries outlined in the article and their problems with fake news?
The majority of fake news within countries are not for revenue purposes, but instead to create some form of distortion and fuel hate through the manipulation of news. The influx of fake news stories take place during important time periods such as elections, to undermine candidates and discredit them and their parties. This can have a major influence on elections, such as those in the US, and polarise political opinion. Some of the fake news articles also fuel religious hate, such as in Myanmar and Australia against muslims. This fake news is also more often found on social networking sites such as Facebook, which makes it much more easier to distribute and go viral.
2) Is fake news an inevitable consequence of the "culture of freedom and innovation" that the internet has brought with it? Is there a way to stop it?
I believe that fake news is to some extent a consequence of the culture of freedom and innovation. There aren't necessarily any laws that prevent from fake news stories being published, and as more people are now having access to the internet and new forms of technology it is much more easier to fabricate false stories and create realistic looking news sites to post them up on. The accessibility of social networking sites such as Facebook allow more views to be generated from the consumers of these news articles, and this inevitably funds the producers and allows this cycle to continue.
1) Which fake news stories were particularly successful for Beqa Latsabidze, the 22-year-old student in Tbilisi, Georgia, who tried to make money from web articles on Trump?
The fake news stories that were particularly successful for Latsabidze were those that were pro-Trump and those which are based on the US General election. Most of his articles serve pro-Trump supporters, as they were a greater success over articles that were pro-Clinton, as they were more radical and eager to read outrageous articles that degraded others, including Trumps opponents.
2) How much can Facebook and Google be blamed for this global rise in fake news?
I believe that Facebook and Google can be blamed for this global rise in fake news to some extent. Facebook and Google provide a platform for fake news to be distributed without any form of restrictions or control, while also allowing the creators of these articles such as Latsabidze to create revenue through advertisements. Nevertheless, Facebook has declared it is already considering some of the options it has to prevent the circulation of fake news stories, including simpler ways for users to flag suspicious content. But whether this is effective or enough to put a stop to fake news is debatable. Google also stated it would ban websites that host fake news from using its online advertising service. Although this will make it harder for fake news to be accessed or to generate revenue, it does not make them entirely non-existent, and audiences can access them freely on social media sites and so on.
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