#FakeNews ? An
Obsolete Concept ?
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Last few days , media ( online + offline ) is full of
debate surrounding some govt circular on fake news and its subsequent
withdrawal
Today’s Economic Times carries following news :
Highlights :
The ministry had recently
set up a committee to formulate a policy for digital broadcasting and news portals
“I&B ministry
officials pointed out in a meeting of the committee that there was no online
regulation, so the code of conduct
that applies to print and TV media cannot be imposed on online news portals,”
said an official.
The set of regulations
has to come out first, after which the code of conduct for online news
portals can be worked out. The
committee is basically looking at how to go about it,” the official said.
Brainstorming over regulation of online news
content had started because the
ministry felt that a large number of people were depending on online media for news and that there should be
some mechanism to check spread of misinformation on the internet.
======================================================
An article in yesterday’s Times of India says :
“ What exactly is fake
news ?
Fake news is news that’s been created knowing it isn’t true .
Unlike inaccurate reporting, which news- papers , by
and large correct and / or apologize for , fake news isn’t accidental or a
genuine mistake
It isn’t even bias . It’s plain false and purposefully crafted
to mislead “
Of course , in today’s supercharged political climate
( CBSE exam / Dalit agitations etc ), it was a wise decision to withdraw that
notification
But , I have a feeling that , before long , we will
fail to distinguish between :
* Fake / True
* Real / Imagined
Here is why :
* Artificial Intelligence is advancing
rapidly
Google Clips ( Google’s
tiny camera ) uses AI and Machine Learning ( ML ) to know
when and whom and what to
capture – and start photographing on its own !
* Machine Learning Algorithms are teaching
computers to “ think / infer
/ argue “
* Robots capable of sensing “ Anger – Love “
and being able to respond accordingly ,
are appearing
* Computers ( assisted by BIG DATA / AI )
have started being “ Creative “ and
publishing poems / essays
and even do better job than Van Gogh in painting
!
* Virtual “ avatars
“ of humans have already started “ interviewing
“ candidates !
* 2 billion humans , possessing 10 billion ,
internet-connected devices ( mostly
smart phones ) , are creating “
Content “ ( text – speech
– videos – images
etc ) and
are uploading on a billion web
sites .
And this content flows from person
to person ,
making each person , a human “ Conductor of Contents “ ( like zero resistance in
an
electric super-conductor ) .
And before long , as it flows , it
will morphs along the way ( from text to speech to
touch to image to smell to taste ? )
We have all , turned into “ Repeater Stations “ / “ Conveyor
Belts “ of content !
And that endless belt goes non-stop ,
round and round ! With neither the beginning
nor the end in sight !
Before long, they will succeed
in uploading even their “ thoughts “ - without typing !
Who can decide ( and how ? ) in all
of these content , what is FAKE / REAL ?
* Computers controlling ( print )
News Papers , will pick up and publish such FAKE
content
automatically, and without any human intervention ( reporters – journalists –
editors etc. getting replaced
by algorithms / robots ? ) .
Who will you catch and
punish ?
* ANA AVATAR X-PRIZE will unleash a revolution
in “ remote working “ from thousands
of Km
In nutshell , we are headed for a future
where “ duality “ will cease to exist !
There will be no distinction between “ Real “ and “ Imaginary “
Ancient Indian Seers spoke of “ Adwait-waad “ ( Singularity )
They also spoke of “ Maya-Waad
“ ( The Ultimate Illusion )
Modern day scientists are veering around to this
thinking
Before long , using QUANTUM COMPUTERS , we might exist
in two – or more – parallel universes , simultaneously !
And ask : Which one of us is “ Real “ ? Who is “
Fake “ ?
05 April 2018
www.hemenparekh.in
/ blogs
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