The (Almost) Complete History of ‘Fake News’ – BBC

The phenomenon of deliberately false information being passed off as legitimate news has roots that stretch far beyond our digital age. What we now call “fake news” has been a tool of manipulation, propaganda, and deception throughout history, evolving with each new communication technology.

The term “fake news” entered mainstream consciousness during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, when it became shorthand for fabricated stories designed to influence public opinion or generate advertising revenue. However, the concept itself is centuries old.

In ancient Rome, Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) waged a sophisticated propaganda campaign against his rival Mark Antony, using short, sharp slogans written on coins—the social media of its day. These messages portrayed Antony as a womanizer and drunk who had fallen under the spell of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, undermining his reputation among Romans.

The invention of the printing press in the 15th century created new opportunities for misinformation to spread. One notable early example comes from 17th century England, where publications known as “canards” sold sensational, fabricated tales to eager readers. One infamous story reported a woman giving birth to rabbits—a hoax that was initially believed by no less than King George I.

Benjamin Franklin, celebrated as one of America’s founding fathers, was himself a purveyor of fake news. In 1782, he created a counterfeit issue of a real newspaper, the Boston Independent Chronicle, containing a fabricated story about Native Americans harvesting 700 scalps from colonists on behalf of the British. Franklin’s forgery was designed to influence public opinion in support of the American Revolution.

The late 19th century saw the rise of “yellow journalism,” where newspaper publishers like Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst used sensationalism, exaggeration, and outright fabrication to drive circulation wars. This period demonstrated how commercial interests could fuel misinformation, a pattern that continues in today’s digital landscape.

During World War I, all major powers established propaganda offices. The British created the War Propaganda Bureau, which spread stories about German atrocities, some factual and others exaggerated or invented. Similarly, Nazi Germany’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels understood that emotional appeal often trumped factual accuracy, famously saying, “A lie told once remains a lie, but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.”

The digital revolution has transformed how fake news operates. While misinformation has always existed, social media platforms provide unprecedented tools for its rapid creation and dissemination. The business model of these platforms, built around engagement and advertising revenue, can inadvertently reward sensational content regardless of its accuracy.

Research shows that false news travels faster and reaches more people than accurate information. A 2018 MIT study found that false news stories are 70% more likely to be retweeted than true stories, and reach their first 1,500 people six times faster. This digital acceleration has made contemporary fake news particularly potent.

In recent years, artificial intelligence has introduced new challenges. Deepfakes—convincing manipulated videos—and AI-generated text can create seemingly authentic content that never actually existed. These technologies make detecting misinformation increasingly difficult for average users.

The battle against fake news has prompted responses from governments, technology companies, and civil society. Fact-checking organizations have proliferated, while social media platforms have implemented various measures to flag potential misinformation. Some countries have introduced legislation specifically targeting fake news, though critics warn these laws could potentially restrict legitimate free speech.

Media literacy has emerged as a crucial defense, with educational initiatives teaching people to critically evaluate information sources. Experts emphasize the importance of considering who created content, why it was created, what evidence supports it, and what other sources say about the same topic.

As we navigate an increasingly complex information landscape, understanding the historical context of fake news reminds us that while the technology has changed, the human tendencies to create and consume misinformation remain remarkably consistent. The challenges we face today are new iterations of an age-old problem, requiring both technological solutions and human discernment to address effectively.