Growing support for government action against false online information
An increasing number of Americans think the government should take steps to restrict false information online. Women still tend to be more open than men to the idea of both the government and tech companies taking action to restrict false information online, though both groups have become a bit more supportive of the government taking such steps, according to a report from the Pew Research Center.
“Amid rising concerns over misinformation online – including surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, especially vaccines – Americans are now a bit more open to the idea of the US government taking steps to restrict false information online. And a majority of the public continues to favor technology companies taking such action, the report says.
48% say the government should take steps to restrict false information, even if it means losing some freedom to access and publish content, according to the survey of 11 178 adults conducted July 26-Aug. 8. That is up from 39% in 2018.
At the same time, the share of adults who say freedom of information should be protected – even if it means some misinformation is published online – has decreased from 58% to 50%, the Pew reports.
59% continue to say technology companies should take steps to restrict misinformation online, even if it puts some restrictions on Americans’ ability to access and publish content. 39% disagree saying protecting freedom of information should take precedence, even if it means false claims can spread.
The Pew notes that the balance of opinion on this question has changed little since 2018.
Three years ago, older Americans and those with less education were more likely than younger and more educated adults, respectively, to say the US government should take steps to restrict false information online, even if means limiting some freedoms.
“Now, Americans across nearly all age groups are fairly evenly divided between the two views. Similar changes have occurred when it comes to Americans’ educational background.”
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