THE unverified news of a young female student being sexually assaulted at a private college in Lahore has shocked the country. The news, that was made viral via social media and messaging apps, triggered protests, with demonstrations held by college students quickly turning violent across Punjab, and leading to the death of a security guard. The government responded with its usual high-handedness: the law enforcers used excessive physical force and disproportionate legal measures, such as the registration of FIRs, arrest of young students and the imposition of Section 144.

Media outlets have focused on the actions of the state and the administration at the educational institution at the centre of the alleged incident, and to some extent on the content creators ostensibly behind the spread of disinformation. While we must keep an eye on such actors, what is troubling is that the role of social media platforms in amplifying disinformation — in this case, through apparent inaction — has not been probed adequately.

The rapid speed at which social media content is shared shows that disinformation researchers, fact-checkers and media outlets are often unable to debunk “the evolving dynamics of disinformation” in time. Significant........

© Dawn