In Western markets, things like the ad transparency API has some basic level of scrutiny from journalists and so on. But that's assuming that there is this kind of state monitoring the things that are going on in countries like Cameroon or Kenya. Australia had an election last year where 88% of ads were based on misleading claims. And no Australian journalists can check it.
How can tech companies help flatten the curve? First and foremost, they must address the lethal misinformation and disinformation circulating on their platforms. The problem goes much deeper than fake news, according to Claire Wardle, co-founder and executive director of First Draft. She studies the gray zones of information warfare, where bad actors mix facts with falsehoods, news with gossip, and sincerity with satire. “Most of this stuff isn't fake and most of this stuff isn't news,” Claire argues. If these subtler forms of misinformation go unaddressed, tech companies may not only fail to flatten the curve — they could raise it higher.