When fake news comes with translation: A study of perception toward coronavirus-related news translation into Thai

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate how coronavirus-related fake news as a result of translation is perceived in the Thai context. Using the framework of truth criteria to guide the online questionnaire and focus group, the researchers gathered the different perspectives of three age groups: Group 1 aged 19–38, Group 2 aged 39–54, and Group 3 aged 55 or above. The findings reveal that: (1) Group 3 agrees that translated news should be compatible with their existing, verified knowledge; (2) respondents in different age groups have significantly different opinions when assessing the coherence of news translations; (3) Group 1 is the most critical when looking for the credibility of news sources; (4) Group 1 is more likely than older groups to make time to verify translated news through social consensus; and (5) Group 1 is the most active in their search for supporting evidence. The decision to verify the news translation is influenced by time constraints, family relationships, technology, and the ease of information processing. This paper sheds light on the basic understanding of fake news from translation and its impact on interactions between news services and audiences of different cultures.