‘“Fake news” is an old problem. In recent years, however, increasing usage of social media as a source of information, the spread of unverified medical advice during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rise of generative artificial intelligence have seen a rush of legislative proposals seeking to minimize or mitigate the impact of false or malicious information spread online that is not covered by existing laws. Drawing on a novel dataset of statutes and other instruments, this Article analyzes changing perceptions about the potential harms caused by misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information. The turn to legislation began in countries that were less free, in terms of civil liberties, and poorer, as measured by GDP per capita. Internet penetration does not seem to have been a driving factor. The focus of such laws is most frequently on national security broadly construed, though 2020 saw a spike in laws addressing public health. Unsurprisingly, governments with fewer legal constraints on their action have generally adopted more robust positions in dealing with false information. Despite early reservations, however, growth in such laws is now steepest in Western states. Though there are diverse views on the appropriate response to false or malicious information, the need for legislation of some kind appears now to be global. The question is no longer whether to regulate “lawful but awful” content, but how.’
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