Facebook, Google Crack the Whip on Fake News
Facebook and Google want to cut off fake news websites where it hurts: the pocketbook.
A fake news story posted by "American News" on Facebook suggests that Denzel Washington is supporting Trump |
Some register a domain name similar to a legitimate news outlet but add a different suffix, hoping readers won't notice and will think it's a reputable news source.
Although Facebook has always had a policy banning misleading advertisements, the social network made it clearer this week by specifically stating that fake news sites don't meet its criteria for publishers.
"In accordance with the Audience Network Policy, we do not integrate or display ads in apps or sites containing content that is illegal, misleading or deceptive, which includes fake news," a Facebook representative told NBC News. "While implied, we have updated the policy to explicitly clarify that this applies to fake news. Our team will continue to closely vet all prospective publishers and monitor existing ones to ensure compliance."
Facebook Under Fire
In a Facebook post on Sunday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg reiterated that although News Feed isn't perfect, it would be "pretty crazy" to say it swayed the election.
With less than 1 percent of stories being deemed "hoaxes," and only a portion of those political, Zuckerberg said it was "extremely unlikely hoaxes changed the outcome of this election in one direction or the other."
News Feed relies on various signals, including user feedback, to determine which posts may contain inaccurate information and to then reduce their distribution.
While it's unclear what concrete steps Facebook plans to take in addition to this, Zuckerberg said they'll have to walk a delicate path moving forward to ensure they're not stifling differences of opinion.
"I am confident we can find ways for our community to tell us what content is most meaningful, but I believe we must be extremely cautious about becoming arbiters of truth ourselves," he wrote.
While it's unclear what concrete steps Facebook plans to take in addition to this, Zuckerberg said they'll have to walk a delicate path moving forward to ensure they're not stifling differences of opinion.
"I am confident we can find ways for our community to tell us what content is most meaningful, but I believe we must be extremely cautious about becoming arbiters of truth ourselves," he wrote.
Source: NBC News
No comments
Your comments and Encouragement are welcome