The curious case of regulating false news on Google

ABSTRACT

There are concerns with the spread of false news in recent years on news aggregator websites. In the case of Google's news aggregator service Google News, this problem is exacerbated when platform synergies are applied (for instance, users can be directed to Google News through Google's search engine, Google Search). In this article, I highlight key features of selected legislation implemented to regulate the spread of false news online and discuss their implications. I also look at the Google's efforts to self- and co-regulate, within the context of its main purposes and vulnerabilities, the mechanisms available, the monitoring of health information over the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as its commitment to codes of practices. Thereafter, I consider the limitations on regulation posed by user norms. I evaluate existing forms of regulation to assess if they are content or engagement driven, and conclude by discussing what could be more effective against disinformation for the future.