Reports From the Law Library of Congress Present a Look at “Limits on Freedom of Expression” and “Initiatives to Counter Fake News” in Countries Around the World

2. Initiatives to Counter Fake News

This report examines the legal approaches of 15 countries, representing all regions of the world, to the emerging problem of manipulation with “fake news” using mass and social media, especially the impact of fake news on ongoing political processes and elections, and the legislative measures undertaken to counteract the dissemination of false information. With the exception of Japan, the widespread distribution of false information and its impact on decision making and democratic processes is becoming a challenge worldwide. The individual country surveys analyze current and proposed initiatives to limit the spread of false information undertaken at the national level, each country’s challenges associated with these efforts, and efforts undertaken by national governments to secure the validity and accuracy of legal information.

Countries covered: Argentina; Brazil; Canada; China; Egypt; France; Germany; Israel; Japan; Kenya; Malaysia; Nicaragua; Russia; Sweden; United Kingdom