What is Fake News?
In this fast-paced society, people always lose their judgment and believe fake news. Fake news is a growing problem in the world today and it has become more widespread and difficult to identify. Fake news spread on social networks can cause many negative consequences by affecting people’s daily lives. From an academic perspective, fake news is associated with the concepts of “disinformation” and “misinformation”. Disinformation is false information that is made on purpose to trick or mislead people. On the other hand, misinformation is inaccurate information that is shared by mistake, without anyone meaning to cause harm.
According to New Straits Times, in 2024, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) requested the removal of 19,546 fake news with 17,245 successfully removed. As of the end of January 2025, 1,575 items were flagged and 1,233 taken down. Since 2020, a total of 25,114 fake news items have been removed with MCMC strengthening cooperation with platforms and agencies to reduce their spread (Sallehuddin, 2025). With the rise of social media, the spread of fake news has become a global issue and Malaysia is not excluded. A study by the Global Risk Journalism Hub found that Malaysia ranks third in South Asia for fake news circulation (77%) after Thailand (82%) and the Philippines (88%) (Komunikasi, 2025). In Malaysia, fake news continues to spread widely through social media platforms which creating ongoing challenges for society. This shows that fake news remains a serious problem and new solutions such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) are becoming increasingly important to detect and stop its spread.
Why do People Create Fake News?
People spread fake news for many different reasons. Sometimes it is as simple as wanting attention and other times it is more serious like trying to influence politics. These reasons are commonly referred to as the ‘Ps’: poor journalism, parody, provocation, passion, partisanship, profit, political influence or power and propaganda (Waweru Muigai, 2019). In everyday life, fake news can be created because:
What are the Consequences of Spreading Fake News?
According to (Haris, 2024), fake news can bring many negative consequences to individuals, communities and the whole country. It can disturb harmony, harm public health, damage reputations, increase cybercrime, affect international relations and disrupt the economy.
1. Disturbs Harmony and Unity
Fake news can damage harmony and unity in a multi-racial and multi-religious society like Malaysia. Information that contains racial, religious or political elements can cause people to argue, fight or take sides. For example, fake news claiming that the rights of a certain race or religion are being denied can create anger, fear and disrupt social harmony. This situation can lead to social conflict, riots, unjustified retaliation, thereby threatening national stability and security.
2. Harms Public Health
The spread of fake news can be harmful to public health especially in the context of a health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Incorrect or misleading information about the virus, treatment methods or preventive measures can cause confusion and misunderstanding among the public. For example, conspiracy theories about the origin of the virus or false claims about the side effects of vaccines can threaten efforts to contain the spread of the epidemic and protect public health. This can lead to increased cases of infection, deaths and pressure on health care systems.
3. Damages Reputation and Credibility
The spread of fake news can damage the reputation and credibility of individuals, organizations or institutions that are the victims of defamation. For example, false allegations of misconduct or scandals within a company can damage the image and trust of customers in that company. This can lead to financial, legal and moral losses. For individuals, unfounded accusations or rumors can tarnish their reputation and affect their employment opportunities or social relationships. These effects can be long-lasting and difficult to recover from, even after the fake news is refuted.
4. Encourages Cybercrime
False information can be a tool for cybercriminal activities such as fraud, identity theft or data breaches. The spread of false news about investment opportunities, big-ticket prizes or security threats can be used to trick victims into revealing personal information or transferring money to a scammer’s account. In fact, fake news can also be used to exploit users’ weaknesses or fears in order to steal data, install malware or disable computer systems. Cybercrime based on false information can cause significant financial losses and threaten users’ confidence in online security.
5. Affects International Relations
The spread of fake news can harm diplomatic relations and international cooperation. Fake news involving other countries or global issues can cause misunderstandings, tensions or conflicts between countries. For example, false allegations of territorial invasion, foreign intervention or violation of international agreements can damage trust and cooperation between countries. This can lead to diplomatic retaliation, economic sanctions or the exploitation of the issue for a country’s internal political interests. Fake news can also be used as a tool of information warfare to weaken a country’s position or influence its foreign policy.
6. Hurts the Economy
The spread of fake news can affect economic growth and investor confidence. Fake news about economic downturns, major company failures or sudden policy changes can create fear and uncertainty in the market. This can lead to a drop in stock prices, large capital withdrawals or cancellation of investment plans. In fact, fake news that threatens a country’s political stability or security can also damage the confidence of foreign investors and reduce the flow of foreign investment (FDI). This can slow down economic growth, create unemployment and increase the cost of living for citizens.
The impact of the spread of fake news can threaten social harmony, public health, organization stability, reputation, cybersecurity, international relations and economic growth. Therefore, efforts to control fake news need to involve the cooperation and commitment of various stakeholders, including governments, media, digital platforms, non-governmental organizations and the public.
How does AI Help with Fake News Prevention?
As information spreads quickly on social media and the internet, it is easy for fake news to spread fast. AI detectors use smart algorithms and machine learning to help spot misleading or false content. By catching these posts early, they can stop misinformation from reaching too many people and help keep online spaces more trustworthy. So, how can AI detectors stop fake news? Let’s look at a few ways.
1. Automatic Fact-Checking
AI can analyze a large amount of news in a short period of time, checking multiple sources at the same time. They can spot mistakes, inconsistencies, or suspicious claims in the information that humans might miss. This makes it possible to flag fake news early, before it spreads widely and misleads people.
2. Identifying Misinformation Patterns
AI is really helpful in spotting fake news. They can pick up on patterns that show a story might not be true, like the way it is written, the format or hidden details behind the article. For example, they notice headlines that are too sensational, quotes that seem made up, or sources that do not really exist. By spotting these clues, AI can flag false news early and help people get the right information before it spreads.
3 Real-Time Monitoring
AI be able to monitor news feeds and social media in real time. They can quickly spot posts or stories that seem suspicious or misleading before they gain too much attention. By catching fake news early, these AI systems give authorities and platforms a chance to act fast, preventing false information from spreading widely and keeping people better informed.
4. Content Verification
AI-powered tools can check whether images, videos and other multimedia are real or manipulated. For example, they can spot edited photos, deepfake videos or content taken out of context. This helps stop false or misleading visuals from spreading and contributing to fake news. By verifying multimedia content, AI gives people more confidence that what they see online is accurate and trustworthy.
5. User Behavior Analysis
AI can track patterns in how people share information online, helping to spot accounts that frequently spread fake news. By analyzing their connections to unreliable sources or suspicious content, AI can identify users who may be spreading misinformation. This allows platforms to act such as flagging or limiting harmful accounts and helps prevent false information from reaching even more people.
6. Custom Recommendations
AI can also look at a user’s browsing habits and interests to understand what kind of content they are likely to see or interact with. By identifying patterns that may expose them to fake news, AI can provide more reliable recommendations online. This helps reduce the chances of users coming across false information and encourages them to see trustworthy content instead.
References
Haris, A. (2024). 7 Kesan Penyebaran Maklumat Palsu. Log Masuk. https://logmasuk.my/maklumat-palsu/#apakah-kesan-penyebaran-maklumat-palsu
Komunikasi, K. (2025). Fake news spreaders deserve heavier penalty. Portal Rasmi Kementerian Komunikasi. https://www.komunikasi.gov.my/awam/berita/23980-fake-news-spreaders-deserve-heavier-penalty#:~:text=According to a study carried,percent) and the Philippines (88
Sallehuddin, Q. (2025). Malaysia launches AI chatbot to combat fake news. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/01/1167364/malaysia-launches-ai-chatbot-combat-fake-news
Waweru Muigai, J. W. (2019). Understanding Fake News. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications (IJSRP), 9(1), p8505. https://doi.org/10.29322/ijsrp.9.01.2019.p8505
Oleh Dr. Wan Noor Hamiza Wan Ali, Pensyarah Kanan, Fakulti Kecerdasan Buatan, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia