This is obviously a big problem that needs some government intervention.

However, addressing it from the lens of "regulating the internet" won't work. Governments have proven time and again that they lack the basic knowledge of how this sector actually works to be effective at all. Their efforts end up doing nothing to help, or, as we've seen recently, completely backfiring.

In fact, the prominence of these fake stories is partly the result of clumbsy incompetent regulation that severely reduced the amount of real news found on social media, leading to the fake stories standing out more

Entrusting a cohort whose microwaves blink 12:00 with this type of thing has predictable results.

(Related: I see Steven Gilbeaut is back at Heritage. Probably the most incompetent of the recent three.)

Instead this needs to be addressed through the criminal code, and ensuring that existing laws are updated to reflect current needs. Even then, you'll be forever playing whack-a-mole.

 

Last edited by RadioAaron (March 28, 2025 4:32 pm)

paterson1 wrote:

I agree Gilbeaut as Heritage Minister or Minister of Canadian Culture was a stupid choice. However trying to blame this on the clumsy incompetent regulation is not really accurate either and an excuse.  This garbage should not be getting on in the first place.
   

It's accurate in explaining why the garbage content stands out. The government put an un-realistic price-tag on legitimate news content.

 

Seems like the tech boys and girls aren't trying very hard, or are they incompetent as well?  The problem starts with the tech companies and if they can't fix it then the government and the laws created will.      

Not anytime soon they won't, for the same reason the tech people haven't: it's almost impossible.