Regulation ‘not realistic for fake news’

Fake news is impossible to regulate and will only be combatted by discerning readers and the strengthening of traditional media, the Communications Minister warns.

Minister Denis Naughten said that while he and his cabinet colleagues are working on plans for an online content watchdog, it would focus on protecting the individual from offensive material and could not realistically police the wider problem of bogus news reports.

“I don’t think it’s possible to regulate. It would be so resource-intensive, it would be completely unwieldy,” he said. “The best way to deal with fake news is to try and support reliable content.”