The challenge of misinformation has evolved from a nuisance into one of the most pressing global risks of our time. According to the 2024 UN Global Risk Report, experts across the globe identify the spread of false information as a top-tier threat, one that we are currently ill-equipped to combat. From the volatility of stock markets and election interference to public health crises like vaccine hesitancy, the real-world consequences of these “rumour storms” are devastatingly clear. Historically, we have viewed the spread of lies as a linear process, assuming that a rumor moves steadily from one person to the next…

The recent indictment of Kim Se-ui, the representative of the Garosero Research Institute, marks a significant turning point in the ongoing battle against malicious content creators in South Korea. After a series of investigations by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Kim has been taken into custody to face trial for a laundry list of serious charges, including defamation, the illegal distribution of illicit imagery, and stalking. This case serves as a stark reminder that the digital realm is not a lawless space where influencers can operate with impunity. By weaponizing his platform to target the actor Kim Soo-hyun, Kim…