Bilawal Bhutto: Fake news can have dangerous consequences

Davos, Jan 24 : Misinformation or fake news has long been the component of information warfare but it can have dangerous consequences, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto said on Wednesday.

While talking about the issue at a session titled “Fake News versus Real Politics” at the World Economic Forum here on Wednesday, Bilawal Bhutto said fake news gained prominence at the time of the 2016 US presidential elections.

He said that fake news is going to stay around for ages, but it is up to people to educate and empower themselves to be updated with the correct information, Geo News reported.

Bilawal Bhutto said politicians use the term to demonize the press, but “for credible news one could look up to non-traditional actors who can be a reliable source”.

US President Donald Trump often refers to the mainstream US media as “fake news”. He earlier announced the winners of his so-called “Fake News Awards” for 2017.

The term is also said to be 2017’s word of the year.

IANS