Ethics, Fake News and information professionals

Abstract

Dissemination of the Fake News has vastly emerged in the digital era. Any type of information true, false, biased or misleading can be spread through any digital platform. There are different ways and forms of delivering information. Additionally, any type of institution or professional as media, journalists, political parties, politicians or financial companies are constantly on the arena of the Fake News. Fake News alter the reality and as a consequence is difficult to change receiver mind. Information professionals have an opportunity to engage its communities through good practices based on information literacy fighting against any type of information disorder. Relating to an information unit as an archive or a library when keeping information on the long term, professionals need to follow a code of conduct to provide objective information to its patrons. However, this code of conduct is not only a librarian or an archivist responsibility but also from who creates the original information. Focusing on dissemination and information disorders there are ethical issues that involve information professionals. In this paper, we analyse cases of unethical information behaviour in different fields. At the same time, we explore ethical codes of conduct on information professionals, in relation to the spread of the fake news on digital platforms. As a conclusion, this paper will provide guidelines to avoid unethical information behaviour in relation to information disorder.