There has always been misinformation and propaganda and the emergence of social media has given lies new power to influence real-world events.

The gunman who shot up the Comet Ping Pong restaurant in Washington D.C. was apparently motivated by a bogus news story about a child sex abuse ring linked to Hillary Clinton.
The gunman who shot up the Comet Ping Pong restaurant in Washington D.C. was apparently motivated by a bogus news story about a child sex abuse ring linked to Hillary Clinton. (Reuters)

After one fake news story inspired a gunman to attack a Washington D.C. restaurant on Sunday, there are now calls for a solution to the problem of lies online finding their way into real life.

Francis Collings explains:

Source: TRTWorld and agencies