Misinformation about migration
- Published on: 7 October 2024
- Last updated on: 8 October 2024
Misinformation is something false or inaccurate. Disinformation is something published or shared to deliberately mislead people.
There have been examples in Ireland of false information published relating to immigration, international protection accommodation or people from a migrant background.
Read more about how to consider the source of information below.
Misinformation
Information is all around us and it can be hard to know if something is accurate sometimes.
Some online content can contain misinformation, also known as ‘fake news’. This can be information that is completely false, not fully accurate, or not supported by experts or facts.
Misinformation about immigration has been seen and shared in Ireland and internationally. If you are reading or watching something, it is important to understand where the information has come from.
Some social media platforms allow users to report misinformation or disinformation.
Checking the source of information is always important.
If you are not sure, check the information against reliable sources. This might be a Government website, a public body, or a trusted organisation or expert.
Here is some advice from Media Literacy Ireland and Coimisiún Na Meán on what to do if you want to check if something is accurate.
Stop - read more than the headline.
Headlines are designed to catch your eye but a headline can’t give the full story, and neither can a short social media post. If it sounds unbelievable, it probably is.
Think - ask yourself what the purpose of the information is.
Information is created to:
- tell us something (news)
- entertain us (satire, cartoon strips, funny videos)
- persuade us (advertising)
Look at the style, tone and source of the information to help you to judge how reliable or accurate it is.
Check - see if the information is being reported anywhere else
If you can’t find the same information elsewhere, it could be because it is inaccurate, unreliable or out of date. This is especially true if the information appears to be very topical or newsworthy.
Visit www.BeMediaSmart.ie for more guidance and information.
Illegal content and reporting
A provider of a hosting service must provide a mechanism for users to notify it of content on the service which they believe is illegal. The mechanism must be easy to access, user-friendly and allow for notices to be submitted electronically.
(Source: Coimisiún na Meán)
A clear example of illegal content about immigration is any information that identifies someone who is applying for international protection.
People applying for international protection have the right to privacy and anonymity under the International Protection Act 2015. It is an offence for anyone to publish information that breaches this right.