Manipulating public opinion has become an easy game. With the help of social media, fake news spreads rapidly on the Internet. Most creators and propagators of these lies pursue political goals. But what if their aim is not to disparage a political opponent, but to propagate false or even fake scientific claims? What are the consequences for public health? How is such fake news recognizable? And how should science journalists deal with it?
A medical journalist from Japan, a former BBC broadcaster, a fake news researcher, and an expert on scientific misinformation will provide answers.