Daily Archives: October 3, 2021

The Friends of the Dartmouth Libraries will be hostinga discussion an in-person talk on the dangers of fake news and how to spot it.

The talk will be held Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. the Haskell Auditorium at Southworth Library, 732 Dartmouth St.

Bristol Community College researchers Emily Brown and Susan Souza-Mort willintroduce audience members to the dark world of misinformation and show how to fact check the information they find in print and online.

Brown is Coordinator of Library Research and Instruction at Bristol Community College's Fall River Campus. Her research interests include misinformation, self-radicalization, and foreign disinformation campaigns.

Souza-Mort is a research and instruction librarian at the colleges New Bedford campus.runs the Open Educational Resources Program, which gives students access to free resources to save on textbook expenses. Souza-Mort is also an adjunct history professor and academic liaison to the STEM academic area at the college.

In accordance with the Dartmouth Board of Health guidelines, audience members are strongly encouraged tomask-up indoors regardless of vaccination status due to the presence of the highly infectious Delta variant of Covid-19.

For more information, emailfodl.libraries@gmail.com.

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Learn to identify 'fake news' | Dartmouth - Dartmouth Week

The proliferation of unverified news reports is not unique to South Korea. As more people consume news online, often taking what they find on social media to be truthful and reliable, the problem of misinformation has become global, deepening political divides and complicating efforts to preserve election integrity and fight the pandemic. But government attempts to stem the flow of misinformation have raised questions about free speech, censorship, and democratic backsliding.

Hardly a day passes without newspapers and social media accounts in South Korea carrying poorly sourced reports of corruption that candidates in next years presidential race have called fake news. The fight intensified after Cho Kuk, a key ally of Moon, resigned as justice minister in 2019 amid allegations of ethical lapses and financial wrongdoing by his family. The scandal rocked Moons administration, and Chos supporters and critics heatedly accused each other of spreading false information to influence public opinion.

Moon said last week that the country needed a stronger measure to fight the fake news and false reporting that has caused much harm to the state and individuals. He then began distancing himself from the bill after concerns were raised at home and abroad.

Journalists unions in South Korea, which are usually sympathetic toward Moons liberal government, have criticized the bill. The main conservative opposition, the People Power Party, called it a dictatorial attempt by Moons government to muzzle unfriendly media.

Domestic media and international rights groups have also spoken out against it, warning that the bills fuzzy definitions of untrue reports, harm and malicious intent would lead to self-censorship among journalists and limit the publication of unpopular and minority opinions.

Moons party has pushed a slate of recent bills aimed at stamping out misinformation, including false narratives about sensitive historical topics. Some of the bills have already become law.

The bill that was postponed this week targeted print, online, and broadcast news media. It proposed a revision to South Koreas Press Arbitration Act that would allow local courts to impose punitive damages on media outlets that publish false news by intent or through grave negligence or that infringes on personal rights, causes property damage or inflicts psychological distress.

The bill called for punitive damages that amount to up to five times the actual loss caused by the false news report. Moons party hoped the hefty financial penalties would force media outlets to take the fact-checking process more seriously.

Disproportionate sanctions such as heavy fines can have a significant chilling effect on freedom of expression in South Korea, which is already constrained by criminal defamation laws that should be abolished, Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

Speaking to journalists last week, Irene Khan, the United Nations special rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion, voiced concerns that the amendment vaguely defined fake news and that offenders would face a disproportionate penalty.

On Tuesday night, Moons party recognized that the bill was too risky to pass as it was. Lawmakers agreed to shelve the bill and allow the opposing parties to continue to negotiate until the end of the year.

Even before the new bill had been introduced, victims of false news reports in South Korea were able to seek remedies, including corrections and compensation. They could also sue news organizations for defamation, which is a criminal offense in the country. Supporters of the new bill said that the financial penalties in South Korea had been too small.

Between 2009 and 2018, 2,220 civil lawsuits were filed seeking compensation over false news. Less than 40 percent of them resulted in financial settlements, which averaged $16,600, according to data from the countrys Press Arbitration Commission. Nearly half of the victims who won settlements were paid $4,260 or less.

In a survey last year by Media Today, an online news publication, four-fifths of the 1,000 respondents supported imposing punitive damages against media outlets for publishing misinformation.

News organizations have complained that the new bill will allow courts to take an organizations revenue into account when awarding damages, which means bigger and more influential mainstream broadcasters and newspapers with the resources to do investigative work would likely face the most severe damages.

Moons governing camp has been in an acrimonious relationship with South Koreas largest newspapers for some time. The newspapers, which are all conservative, have been highly critical of the policies and scandals surrounding Moons administration.

On Tuesday, the governing party swore that it has not given up on severe punitive damages for publishing misinformation.

We can no longer pretend that there is nothing wrong when irresponsible news reporting drives businesses to bankruptcy and ruins the lives and reputation of individuals, Song Young-Gil, head of the party, said in August. He said likening the bill to gagging the press was tantamount to demanding the right to publish fake and manipulated news.

See the original post here:

South Korea shelves 'fake news' bill amid international outcry - The Boston Globe

Fake news can have dangerous consequences; this was true even in ancient times when, without print or electronic media, a lie could only spread through word of mouth.

Today, with the advent of social media, where news travels with lightning speed and can reach millions in seconds, the potential of concocted news to not only cause injury to persons, but even unrest and destabilisation in a state is immense. A recent example of such deliberate disinformation to cause harm to Pakistan was the Indian medias fabricated story that the Pakistan Army was involved in military operations in Afghanistan and assisting the Taliban. Another example was the false news of a possible attack on the New Zealand cricket team which led to cancellation of the tour.

The draft bill moved in the US Senate seeking sanctions against Pakistan is indeed also a result of intentional misinformation. The most ridiculous fake news was the one that the US used regarding Iraq having weapons of mass destruction. The result was utter destruction.

The Quran directs as follows: O you who believe! If an evil doer comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done. (Verse 49:6). There is also this beautiful Hadith: It is enough of a lie, for a man (without verifying) to narrate everything he hears. (Sahih Muslim, Vol 1, Hadith 7)

It is argued that, notwithstanding the magnitude of the harm, there should be no regulation to tackle the matter of fake news because any such control would be contrary to the fundamental right of freedom of speech and information, and eventually lead to censorship and hurt democracy. The fear is that under the garb of regulating fake news, a government will be able to control the media.

I too believe that the answer does not lie in over-regulation as such a law or rule will be counter-productive and will be eventually struck down by the courts as contrary to the constitution.

However, the government is also responsible for safeguarding its citizens and protecting national interest. It is not therefore possible to simply do nothing. The solution lies in achieving a correct balance, and managing the menace.

One way in which some countries are successfully attempting to diminish the effect of fake news is to encourage professional bodies as fact checkers whose job is to detect fake news. Our government is tech savvy and too needs to encourage Pakistan-based independent fact checkers, with the objective to inform media houses and the public of the results of the research.

At the same time, any government wanting to deal with fake news in social media, will have to work closely with major players like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc to remove fake news content. For this purpose any rules which are made must be consensus-based and ensure that no power is given to any institution to simply stop the dissemination of information as fake news just because the story is not to the liking of a government.

Regarding traditional media, one must remember that the legitimacy of a TV channel or newspaper depends on the authenticity of its news, and once the reputation of any media house is tarnished for repeatedly publishing fake news, people will stop watching the channel or reading the newspaper. It is this risk of ruining ones reputation and losing business that is a real deterrence against publication of fake news.

However the most effective remedy against false news, on social media particularly, is to strengthen the print media. TV and radio are increasingly struggling to combat accuracy because of the need to give news promptly (truth suffers and the professionalism of a journalist is sacrificed at the altar of the need to be the first to give breaking news). Often the electronic media is forced to publish internet-based stories only to find that the news is bogus. This causes mass-confusion and gives room to miscreants to continue to advance their illegitimate objects.

But the problem of competing with the speed of social media does not affect written newspapers. People turn (and in the future will increasingly do so) to print media to check the authenticity of stories appearing on social media, media channels and even tabloids. The government should trust media houses and maintain a mutual relationship with them, which will ultimately expose inaccuracy and falsehood. At the same time, the r respected newspapers of the country have to strengthen their own professionalism, regulations and policies of verification and self-restraint, to become even more relevant. Only the prestigious media houses will survive.

Finally no campaign, laws or regulations against fake news can be successful, until the public becomes discerning enough to shift the chaff from the grain and judge what is true or false. There is a conversation reported about Socrates with someone which runs as follows: Someone approached Socrates and sought permission to tell him what a member of a committee had said about him. Socrates said, First let me know if it will benefit me? The talebearer replied, No, it would not benefit you. Socrates then asked, Will it benefit you? The talebearer responded, No. It will not benefit me. Socrates then questioned, Will it benefit the community? The talebearer replied, No. It will not benefit the community. Socrates turned his back from the talebearer and said In that case I am not interested in knowing what the gentleman had said about me, and then walked away.

I would earnestly believe that this kind of attitude has to be adopted generally by the people of Pakistan and particularly by parliamentarians, elites and those influential who are gossip prone. The people will follow their leaders behaviour.

The writer is a practising advocate of the Supreme Court, a current senator and chairman of theSenate Standing Committee on Law and Justice.

Email: [emailprotected] com

Twitter: syedalizafar1

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Fake news - The News International

President Moon Jae-in and his Democratic Party in South Korea have spent months vowing to stamp out what they have called fake news in the media. But lawmakers had to postpone a vote on a new bill this week when they encountered a problem: no one can agree on exactly how to do it.

Moons party, which controls a majority in the parliament, submitted the bill in August, touting it as one of the last major reforms of his administration before his five-year term ends in May. The bill triggered an outcry from domestic media and international rights groups that warned it would discourage journalists from investigating corruption scandals and would have a chilling effect on press freedoms.

The proliferation of unverified news reports is not unique to South Korea. As more people consume news online, often taking what they find on social media to be truthful and reliable, the problem of misinformation has become global, deepening political divides and complicating efforts to preserve election integrity and fight the pandemic. But government attempts to stem the flow of misinformation have raised questions about free speech, censorship and democratic backsliding.

Hardly a day passes without newspapers and social media accounts in South Korea carrying poorly sourced reports of corruption that candidates in next years presidential race have called fake news. The fight intensified after Cho Kuk, a key ally of Moon, resigned as justice minister in 2019 amid allegations of ethical lapses and financial wrongdoing by his family. The scandal rocked Moons administration, and Chos supporters and critics heatedly accused each other of spreading false information to influence public opinion.

Also read |US surpasses 700,000 Covid deaths as California schools make vaccines compulsory

Moon said last week that the country needed a stronger measure to fight the fake news and false reporting that has caused much harm to the state and individuals. He then began distancing himself from the bill after concerns were raised at home and abroad.

Journalists unions in South Korea, which are usually sympathetic toward Moons liberal government, have criticized the bill. The main conservative opposition, the People Power Party, called it a dictatorial attempt by Moons government to muzzle unfriendly media.

Domestic media and international rights groups have also spoken out against it, warning that the bills fuzzy definitions of untrue reports, harm and malicious intent would lead to self-censorship among journalists and limit the publication of unpopular and minority opinions.

Moons party has pushed a slate of recent bills aimed at stamping out misinformation, including false narratives about sensitive historical topics. Some of the bills have already become law.

The bill that was postponed this week targeted print, online and broadcast news media. It proposed a revision to South Koreas Press Arbitration Act that would allow local courts to impose punitive damages on media outlets that publish false news by intent or through grave negligence or that infringes on personal rights, causes property damage or inflicts psychological distress.

The bill called for punitive damages that amount to up to five times the actual loss caused by the false news report. Moons party hoped the hefty financial penalties would force media outlets to take the fact-checking process more seriously.

Disproportionate sanctions such as heavy fines can have a significant chilling effect on freedom of expression in South Korea, which is already constrained by criminal defamation laws that should be abolished, Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

Speaking to journalists last week, Irene Khan, the United Nations special rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion, voiced concerns that the amendment vaguely defined fake news and that offenders would face a disproportionate penalty.

On Tuesday night, Moons party recognised that the bill was too risky to pass as it was. Lawmakers agreed to shelve the bill and allow the opposing parties to continue to negotiate until the end of the year.

Even before the new bill had been introduced, victims of false news reports in South Korea were able to seek remedies, including corrections and compensation. They could also sue news organizations for defamation, which is a criminal offense in the country. Supporters of the new bill said that the financial penalties in South Korea had been too small.

Between 2009 and 2018, 2,220 lawsuits were filed seeking compensation over false news. Less than 40% of them resulted in financial settlements, which averaged $16,600, according to data from the countrys Press Arbitration Commission. Nearly half of the victims who won settlements were paid $4,260 or less.

In a survey last year by Media Today, an online news publication, four-fifths of the 1,000 respondents supported imposing punitive damages against media outlets for publishing misinformation.

News organizations have complained that the new bill will allow courts to take an organizations revenue into account when awarding damages, which means bigger and more influential mainstream broadcasters and newspapers with the resources to do investigative work would likely face the most severe damages.

Moons governing camp has been in an acrimonious relationship with South Koreas largest newspapers for some time. The newspapers, which are all conservative, have been highly critical of the policies and scandals surrounding Moons administration.

On Tuesday, the governing party swore that it has not given up on severe punitive damages for publishing misinformation.

We can no longer pretend that there is nothing wrong when irresponsible news reporting drives businesses to bankruptcy and ruins the lives and reputation of individuals, Song Young-Gil, head of the party, said in August. He said likening the bill to gagging the press was tantamount to demanding the right to publish fake and manipulated news.

See more here:

South Korea shelves Fake News bill amid international outcry - WION

HOUSTON, TX The calendar is turning. The Northern Hemisphere, having passed the Fall Equinox, is moving further into autumn, with colder temperatures and shorter daylight hours awaiting. It is also when all variations of football dominate the American sportscape. By now, teams are in game-shape and the malaise from the summer break is long gone. Yet, it is also a time for change. Injuries start to take their toll for the players, and for every one that must go to the IR, there is another that must rise up and take their place in the spotlight.

Such is the case for Texans starting quarterback Davis Mills. While only six quarters into his NFL experience, he is already feeling like a grizzled veteran. I remember those first snaps in Cleveland, so long, long ago lamented Mills. Scared out of my mind, frightened to death of the sound of a barking Myles Garrett or a stomping Jadeveon Clowney. Man, I thought I was facing the apocalypse. I even thought that a puppy or two would help. Well, how nave I was, a green and untried rookie.

Little did I know that Cleveland was but just a taste of what things could be. That next game against Carolina, the full gamemy [Easterby], I never thought things would ever get that brutal. The hits, the sacks, the constant pressure in my face, the sounds of pain, the smell of the defendersespecially those whose deodorant wore off early onsome things will never leave you, man. They never leave you. At the reminiscence of those experiences, Mills eyes seemed to be glancing off into the void, as if looking back into a beyond that us mere mortals, or at least to our reporters at Totally Not Fake News.

Other players, well, they werent quite so reflective. Whoopie-[Easterby]-doo snorted Texans long snapper Jon Weeks. All these rookies, the green troops, they all say the same things. They come in all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with these grand notions of coming in and making a huge difference. Then they actually get out into the [Easterby]. Take a couple of tough hits, a few near-misses, and suddenly, they all think they went through Hue on steroids. Kids. Seen it so many times, I can set my pocket watch to it.

Besides, if they think they faced some action now, they shouldve been there for Baltimore, January 2012. That was some real hitting. Brutal fighting, like some major Ia Drang fighting. Dont think we ever really recovered, even after we made it back to Da Nanger, Houston.

Well, maybe, but I cant wait until I rotate back home and out of this mess. Ive done my time Mills asserted. That continence quickly changed when informed that while he was drafted, the Texans were not rotating him back to Stanford. Wait, What?! I though you were drafted for a while, do your time, and then they send you back home??? What sort of army is this? Isnt that what happens when youre drafted?

Kid snapped Weeks This aint the Army. You just took a couple of tough knocks from some other dudes who think that Carolina Blue looks cool. Besides, did you look at your latest pay stub? You aint makin that kinda money at Stanford and you [Easterby] aint makin that kinda money in the Army. You know, the whole You never get rich, you son of a [Easterby], Youre in the Army now [Easterby]. For [Easterbys] sake kid, buy a [Easterby] clue!!!

Upon further reflection, Mills seemed to change his tune Oh, oh, I see Mr. Jon Weeks, Sir! Thanks for your guidance. I appreciate the wisdom you just imparted Mr. Weeks, Sir!

Kid, will you knock it off with the Mr. Jon Weeks, Sir Long Snapper of the Earldom of Kyle McNaridom? I dont know what [Mr. 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and NFL MVP] Vernon [Hargreaves III] is doing to you, but you gotta stop that [Easterby]! Weeks barked. Oh, and get off my part of the practice turf, ok?

Still, given the experiences of the past week for Mills, you cant blame the young quarterback for being all over the place in his physical, mental and psychological state. He went from holding a clipboard to throwing his first pass, completing his first touchdown, and finding himself trending on social media to a degree no one ever expected.

Seemed kinda tough for him noted Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly. Been working with him to try to get the basic down, like footwork and forward motions. You should have seen him when he first got to campthe footwork. We at Totally Not Fake News obtained some of that initial training footage.

Observed injured starter Tyrod Taylor Well, it is quite a thing for a new guy to come into the league and then go from off the bench to making a start. They sit for a few games, then the starter goes down, and then he starts and leads the team to glory. Meanwhile, the previous guy, who, through no fault of his own, and probably more the fault of some drunk[Easterby] medical dumb[Easterby] who didnt quite master that difficult skill of determining the difference between a back muscle and a lung, must update his LinkedIn Profile again and find another job, again. All the while, praying that the curse from the old woman beggar he blew off on a trip to downtown Baltimore as a rookie gets lifted. Now, if youll excuse me, I need to find 3 live chickens to sacrifice, er, cook before the light of a full moon. Maybe thatll bring the curse to an endmaybe.

As for Davis Mills, since he figures to be the starter for a least a few more games, here is some information about the new starting quarterback and social media sensation:

Favorite Childhood Toy:

Favorite Bird:

Favorite Star Wars Character:

Favorite Jurassic Park Character:

(For some reason, Texans GM Nick Caserio always seems to start salivating whenever he sees this particular photo)

With that, the team moves forward through autumn and the heart of the schedule. Hopefully, the Texans and Davis Mills used the long break between games to get their bodies and minds right, for they face perhaps some of the most brutal and ferocious adversaries they will face all season. These opponents care not for their own physical safety, and they dang sure dont care about their adversaries. They put fear in the hearts of even the greatest of players. They have no fear, and if they get their liquid courage, then they are neigh unstoppable. They are regarded among the best and most dangerous of foes.

We, of course, are referring to the #BillsMafia, perhaps the most devastating of adversary fanbases. How the team handles them will determine how well their stay in Buffalo goes. Oh, and they have a game against the Bills, so there is that.

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Totally Not Fake News: The Rites of Autumn - Battle Red Blog

THE SUPREME COURT has expressed serious concern over dissemination of fake news particularly on social media platforms and web portals and has also pulled up a section of TV channels for their communal tone, which might bring a bad name to the country.

In a related development on Pegasus snooping row, the Supreme Court said it wanted to know whether or not the spyware was used through illegal methods to allegedly snoop on citizens after the Centre stoutly refused to file an affidavit citing national security on pleas seeking an independent probe into the row. The Bench has posted the matter for hearing after six weeks when it would take up the Centres plea for transfer of petitions from various high courts to itself on the issue of newly enacted IT rules meant to regulate online content, including social media and web portals.

The Editors Guild of India which had expressed shock over reports on wide spread surveillance, allegedly mounted by government agencies on journalists, civil society activists and politicians using the hacking software created and developed by the Israeli Company NSO, has now shown concern over Income Tax Survey at the offices of few news websites calling it violation of free speech and freedom of press.

On fake news, the top court had observed that there is no control over fake news and slandering via web portals and YouTube channels. Agreeing with the Supreme Court, the governments Solicitor General felt that social media not only spreads communal but also planted news. The Bench led by Chief Justice of India asked the Centre that Twitter, Facebook or YouTubethey never respond to us and theres no accountability, no control over fake news and slandering.

It is all the more serious that slandering is not only confined to social media platforms but also persists in the mainstream media, especially some TV channels that give a communal spin to news and propagate a distorted narrative. Though there is a statutory mechanism under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, not enough is being done to regulate the channels which spew venom in the garb of opinion.

The moot question is in the age of information explosion, can we weed out fake news? The reach of social media without any accountability has only brought about deception and deceit. and It was only recently that the United Nations Secretary General had identified a parallel pandemic to Covid-19, a misinfodemic about coronavirus. There were conspiracy theories, stigma attached to those infected and about the efficacy of vaccines.

The Centre has repeatedly argued that it cannot issue a gag order in such cases as the move would effectively destroy the freedom of the citizenry to know and the right of journalists to ensure an informed society. The middle path lies in effective monitoring and regulation through regular advisories and warnings. News circulated or broadcast with a divisive agenda curtails democratic space and poses a threat to law and order. Such content has to be identified and weeded out forcefully.

See more here:

Weeding out fake news in the age of information explosion - Tehelka

From the "Northern Irish psyche" to fake news, Andrew Madden takes a closer look at some of the more unusual things in the Assembly and further afield this week.

During question time in the Assembly, there were some odd statements from the DUP's Paul Frew, who hit out at Stormont's Covid restrictions - which his party's ministers agreed to - as "draconian and undemocratic".

Given the draconian nature of the emergency powers and the undemocratic harm they are doing, the brutal impact of lockdown measures on mental health, suicide, self-harm, on isolation of our people, what work has the Executive undertaken to establish the true cost of the Executives undemocratic decisions? he asked.

The irony was not lost on deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, who said as much, adding: I mean, the Executive has taken democratic decisions the whole way through the pandemic, the Executive has sought to work together to protect lives and livelihoods, the Executive and every minister sitting around that table is there to do right by the public which we serve."

During a sobering debate on gambling legislation, there were a few moments of levity. When Europhile MLA Matthew O'Toole revealed he placed a bet on Europe on the team's ill-fated Ryder Cup bid, he admitted: "Europe let me down - that is the first time that I will use that phrase in the Assembly chamber."

Meanwhile, when speaking about concerns over the Northern Ireland Protocol, Sinn Fein's Declan Kearney told the Assembly that negative portrayals of the impact of the protocol are "fake news". He said much of the narrative presenting the protocol as a bad thing "flies in the face of reality", adding that many business here were benefitting from the mechanism's dual access provision that enables Northern Ireland traders to sell goods unfettered in both the UK internal market and the EU single market.

TUESDAY

Tuesday saw Ulster Day 2021 and with it, a joint unionist statement outlining their opposition to the NI Protocol. Among the signatories were TUV leader Jim Allister and PUP leader Billy Hutchinson. Curious, as less than a week ago Mr Allister tabled a Bill which sought to ban political appointees with serious convictions from sitting on public bodies - specifically aimed at Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly due to his convictions for IRA activity. Curious, because Mr Hutchinson received a life sentence for his part in the UVF double murder of two Catholic workmen in 1974.

As Alliance leader Naomi Long put in a tweet: "That can't be Jim Allister with Billy Hutchinson after all his pontificating about former terrorists last week, can it?? So, let's see: not okay to serve on boards, but fine with Cllrs and sharing joint platforms. Before you @ me, I've no issue with Hutchinson.

The Assembly chamber was the scene of heated exchanges between the SDLP's Pat Catney and Health Minister Robin Swann, over a statement Mr Swann released in which he said parties advocating a vaccine passport scheme had, until recent days, shown no actual interest in the issue. One of those parties was the SDLP.

I have to say that I was extremely disappointed by the statement issued in your name today which appears to me to question the sincerity of my party on this issue and you may want to take this opportunity to reconsider your comments," Mr Catney said. In response to a written question on July 5, the minister said his department estimated 10.5m was needed for, amongst other things, features to support an Executive policy on domestic use of the Covid passport. Can you provide an update on the work that has taken place over the last three months?

Mr Swann replied: I am not sure where his anger comes from, but I will say, when I saw some commentary last night it reminded me of a line from a poem.

"Yesterday, upon a stair, I met a man who wasnt there."

Deputy speaker Roy Beggs had to intervene several times before things calmed down.

WEDNESDAY

Rising fuel prices were on the agenda, following chaotic scenes at the pumps across the water, however Northern Ireland was seemingly unaffected. Why might this be? Well, according to John Martin of the Road Haulage Association, it has something to do with the "Northern Irish psyche" that is allowing the region to escape the panic buying seen elsewhere in the UK.

When asked by the News Letter about the disparity, Mr Martin said: : Its maybe the Northern Irish psyche were just slightly more laid back... I dont think theres any other explanation.

There is no shortage of fuel in GB just there was a shortage of drivers. I think there was an issue in relation to a small number of filling stations.

That was picked up by the press and the public just went mad in buying more fuel than was needed, exacerbating the whole situation.

Wednesday also saw the announcement of long-awaited reforms of our archaic licensing laws, with venues now able to stay open later and rules relaxed over the Easter period. Cheers to that - it only took us 25 years to catch up with the rest of the UK.

Speaking of the rest of the UK, during the Labour Party conference in England, party leader Sir Keir Starmer had some choice words for the difference between him and PM Boris Johnson.

"Ive spent my entire working life trying to get justice done, Mr Starmer told delegates.

"In 2003, when I was working with the Policing Board of Northern Ireland, while I was learning up close how hard it is to make split-second life-and-death decisions in a riot. As I worked with the police to create a lasting institution in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement.

"Boris Johnson was a guest on Top Gear where, in reference to himself, he said to Jeremy Clarkson: you cant rule out the possibility that beneath the elaborately constructed veneer of a blithering idiot, lurks a blithering idiot.

THURSDAY

Thursday was a big day for the DUP, with its 50th birthday celebrations set for that evening at a Belfast hotel. One person who decided to turn down the invitation was former party leader Arlene Foster.

Asked about the news Mrs Foster will not be attending the event, also-former-leader (albeit for three weeks), Edwin Poots did not seem too bothered.

"It is entirely up to every individual as to what they choose to do. I'll be there and I'm certainly going to enjoy a celebration with very many good friends that I have built up over many years," he said. Was that a slight dig at the end?

Thursday morning also saw an interesting comment from the Health Minister at the Health committee. UUP MLA Alan Chambers spoke about the Covid vaccine, saying: Anybody has the right not to take the vaccine... I have no difficulty with that."

He added: I cant understand why so many people feel the need to actively campaign against vaccination.

Mr Swann responded: What concerns me is not just the level of opposition but its also the level of threat of violence that is actually being insinuated and targeted against a number of people both working in the health department and the vaccination programme.

Were now seeing a different level of antagonism."

The Health Minister should know, he was speaking after the police told him to review his security arrangements due to threats from anti-vaxxers.

FRIDAY

Friday is generally subdued in terms of politics in Northern Ireland, with the Assembly not sitting, however a decision by the Parades Commission to ban a district centenary parade from entering the Kilcoole area irked many unionists. None more so than the TUV, with party secretary Ron McDowell saying: "The Parades Commission have only ever served to be a tool utilised by republicans and there can be no place for the Commission in a Northern Ireland representative of all our citizens.

"It therefore comes as no surprise to hear this decision being welcomed by Gerry Kelly of Sinn Fein and Nichola Mallon of the SDLP. I am happy to go on record and state that the removal of the Parades Commission is a personal goal of mine going forward.

He urged everyone to protest against this ludicrous decision peacefully."

Read the original:

Andrew Madden's weekly political spin: From the 'Northern Irish psyche' to 'fake news' - Belfast Telegraph

87 percent of girls around the world say that fake news online negatively affects their lives.

The internet could be a powerful tool in the fight for gender equality, but so far it has been disappointing. As more girls and young women access the internet, they often come up against prejudice, misogyny and stereotypes online: This is what you should look like, this is how you should behave.

Large-scale research shows that girls and women are hit very hard by this misinformation and misinformation online. A whopping 87% say it negatively affects their life. Three girls tell Metro their story.

Everyone has to deal with misinformation and misinformation, but The Truth Gap investigation through International Plan shows that it mainly affects girls and young women. Every day, girls and young women are bombarded online with stereotypes about their bodies and how they should behave, said director Garance Reus. With increasing digitalization, it is more important than ever that girls learn to navigate between half-truths and prejudices.

Disinformation and disinformation affect girls and young women around the world in all kinds of forms: stereotypes, online (sexual) harassment, bodily humiliation and, for example, lies and gossip about female politicians, which brings girls to to underestimate himself. Reus thinks it is very important that they do not be discouraged to make their voices heard, but it is still happening today. One in four girls is less likely to share their opinion, and one in five girls has stopped being politically or socially active.

So its no surprise that 91% of girls are concerned about misinformation and misinformation online. Especially since in many cases it is girls and young women who rely on online information on topics that specifically concern them. Take, for example, sexuality, feminism, womens rights, and sexual health rights. These subjects are often still taboo in their immediate environment (school or home). Almost half of girls therefore sometimes feel stressed, anxious or even sad because of misinformation and misinformation online.

Sara, Alisa and Anne tell Metro about how fake news online is (negatively) affecting their lives.

Sara (21) encounters disinformation and disinformation online, especially on Instagram: There is almost always Photoshopping. I spend maybe an hour a day on Instagram. If you see pictures of people who have been photoshopped all the time, it makes you insecure. And it doesnt just happen to the Kardashians, it happens everywhere. Everyone knows how to do facetun, its very accessible. It makes it hard to see when something is wrong, but because Im so consciously involved in it, I see it often. I think if you are not consciously involved in it you can hit it very easily. Especially with young girls, and boys too.

Now that doesnt bother me anymore. I accepted my appearance, but I remember that it affected me a lot during puberty. I started to have problems with my self-image, I started to doubt myself and watched everything I did. You are very conscious of your appearance, when there are so many nicer things to occupy you.

Alisa (21) is one of the four girls who are more careful about expressing their opinion because of what she sees online. And few women are involved. You often see men speaking, for example, in politics or in leadership roles. Of course, lately it has improved more and more, but as a result you are less likely to support yourself as a woman in a mixed group, for example at school. It makes me more restrained. In a room full of men, Im more likely to be quiet.

It would help if I saw more women in leadership positions, like the Prime Minister of New Zealand. I watch it. And not only the top women when it comes to female topics, but also more girls talking about ICT, for example. The stereotypical woman must be broken.

The stereotypical woman is something that Anne (24) has encountered a lot in recent years. Online, she is often told what people think of her and what they think she should look like. Recently a man posted a comment under my bikini photo: a little too chubby. I found it very difficult. People dont realize how much it can affect someone. It is very easy to commenting from a (fake) account to make someone feel bad about posting a bikini and body photo. I have become more reserved with what I post and how I want to show my body.

A few years ago, the student was also harassed on Twitter. I was tagged by a boy in a photo where you saw that I had an eating disorder. Add the hashtag anorexia. Others have tagged themselves in there. This way you make sure that someone gets weaker even more. There is always so much emotion behind. Friends then want to help me by telling me to let it go, but isnt that a way to calm me down?

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Many girls and young women suffer from false information online: I started to doubt myself

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Many girls and young women suffer from fake news online - DodoFinance

Negative portrayals of the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol are fake news, the Assembly has been told.

inn Fein junior minister Declan Kearney said much of the narrative presenting the post-Brexit trading mechanism as a bad thing flies in the face of reality.

He said many businesses in the region were benefitting from the protocols dual access provision that enables Northern Ireland traders to sell goods unfettered in both the UK internal market and the EU single market.

Mr Kearney also criticised the DUP threat to walk out of the Executive if radical changes were not secured to the protocols trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

He also warned the party to reconsider its accompanying decision to boycott north-south political structures as part of its protest.

The junior minister said a DUP no-show at North South Ministerial Council sectoral meetings in mid-October would be a very serious development that would be in breach of Stormonts ministerial code.

Much of the narrative around the protocol flies in the face of reality and its directly contradicted by the fact that many businesses are seeing and utilising the advantages with which the protocol provides them such, for example, as the dual market access that is available, he said.

So theres a lot of dishonesty and fake news about the place.

He added: That type of inaccuracy becomes irresponsible when its accompanied by inflammatory rhetoric and not so thinly veiled warnings and that creates more economic uncertainty but it also creates political apprehensions.

So I would urge all representatives to be responsible and where there are issues that need to be addressed lets do that in a pragmatic way that actually finds durable solutions.

As for the political repercussions, the sabre rattling needs to stop, those whipping up tensions should step back from the brink.

Lets implement the protocol properly and maintain powersharing.

Mr Kearney said next NIMS sectoral meetings were scheduled for October 14 and 15.

I expect these meetings to go ahead, he said.

Any DUP boycott of these bodies would be a very serious matter and the party involved should reflect very carefully on the implications of such a decision, as the requirement to attend ministerial council meetings is embedded within the ministerial code.

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Antrim East MLA for the UUP John Stewart sad the protocol was undermining east-west relations (Liam McBurney/PA)

PA

Ulster Unionist MLA John Stewart asked Mr Kearney about the protocols impact on east-west relations a key plank of the 1998 peace accord.

Does the minister agree that the Belfast Agreement was established on the basis of mutual respect, on the principle of consent, that east- west relations as well as north-south must be conducted in good faith, Mr Stewart asked.

Does he also recognise that a trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK runs contrary to the ethos and the spirit of the Belfast Agreement.

Mr Kearney said he agreed with Mr Stewart and said he was opposed to any border that undermined the functioning of the Good Friday Agreement institutions.

Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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Negative portrayal of NI Protocol is 'fake news', Assembly told - Belfast Telegraph