臉書因應假新聞自律機制之探討

Abstract

在2016年美國總統選舉後，「假新聞」被全球廣泛關注與討論，同時，假新聞的氾濫也在世界各地造成了影響。社群媒體因提供假新聞散佈的管道，加上演算法的機制造成假新聞現象的惡化，被人指責最需要為假新聞負責，因此，不得不面對平台上的假新聞問題。\n\n 本研究以全球最大的社群媒體臉書切入，透過文獻分析，檢視假新聞現象與帶來的影響，以及臉書因應平台上假新聞所採取的自律機制，並瞭解與統整在自律失靈時，不同國家地區對於假新聞的治理與規範，以及臉書因應假新聞議題的協力夥伴。此外，本研究輔以深度訪談法探詢我國政府官員、公民團體代表與學者對於臉書在台灣針對假新聞之自律成效以及我國政府對待社群媒體假新聞採取的行動之看法，提供臉書在台灣針對假新聞施行自律以及我國政府如何因應假新聞的建議。\n\n 研究發現，臉書多管齊下自律，因應假新聞；不過，對比臉書在國際上針對假新聞所採取的自律措施，臉書在台灣的施行的自律並不足夠，且都是較起步性的工作，並不符合我國政府與民間的期待。此外，我國政府目前雖傾向不透過直接立法的方式處理假新聞問題，然而因應假新聞的做法並無太大成效，因此亦須更積極應對假新聞的挑戰。基於上述發現，本研究建議臉書：（一）增加投入在台因應假新聞之資源，並廣納在地人才；（二）結合演算法應用網路媒體可信度研究成果；（三）提供相關數據以供檢視打擊假新聞之成效。而在政府方面，則建議：（一）加強對於社群媒體自律的問責；（二）不必全然排除「立法嚇阻」作為最後一道防線的可能性；（三）建立內容農場問責機制；（四）加強對於傳統媒體的查證要求；（五）執行需較龐大資源與長期投入的項目。

After the 2016 United States presidential election, the issue of “fake news” has been brought to public attention. The widespread of fake news has been affecting the world. Social media is criticized for providing platforms for the spread of fake news, and its algorithm has worsened the situation. Therefore, social media has to face the issue of fake news on its platform.\n\nThis study focuses on the self-regulation of Facebook, the largest social media in the world. Through document analysis, this study examines the phenomena and impact of fake news, the self-regulation that Facebook adopts to prevent fake news, and the regulation and governance in different countries when Facebook’s self-regulation doesn`t work. In-depth interviews are conducted to explore how Taiwanese government officials, non-governmental organizations, and scholars consider the effect of Facebook’s self-regulation and the actions that Taiwanese government take to respond to fake news. This study provides suggestions to Facebook and Taiwanese government as for how to respond to the issue.\n\nThis study finds that Facebook adopts many methods to respond to the problem of fake news. However, compared to the self-regulation that Facebook adopts in other countries, the self-regulation adopted in Taiwan is said to be preliminary, insufficient, and doesn`t meet the expectation of Taiwanese society. In addition, although the Taiwanese government does not tend to deal with the problem of fake news through direct legislation, what it has been doing to respond to fake news has not been very effective. Therefore, it is necessary for the government to be more active in responding to the challenges of fake news. Based on the above findings, this study suggests that Facebook should: (1) increase resources in Taiwan and recruit more local staffs, (2) apply the research result of Credibility of Internet media to the algorithm, (3) provide related data for the public to examine the result of fighting against fake news on the platform. And as for the government, this study suggests the following: (1) hold social media accountable for self-regulation, (2) no need to exclude the possibility of legislation to prevent fake news, (3) hold content farms accountable, (4) reinforce verification requirements of traditional media, (5) conduct projects that need huge resources and long-term investment.