Should fake news be controlled?

Should governments take steps to control the flow of fake news? If history has taught us anything, it’s that we probably shouldn’t, Flemming Rose and Jacob Mchangama argue for the Washington Post. With calls around the world for punitive measures against outlets that proliferate fake news, prior attempts to control the flow of news and information only proved to empower governments to control the narrative in their favor and stifled freedom of expression. The authors acknowledge the dangers of false news, especially in the digital age of information. They argue, however, that instead of trying to control what is and isn’t out there, it would be wiser to devise ways to teach the public how to become more selective and critical in their consumption of information.