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Facebook Begins 'Fact-Checking' Photos, Videos (reuters.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the it's-about-time dept.

Facebook said today that it had begun "fact-checking" photos and videos to reduce the hoaxes and false news stories that have plagued the world's largest social media network. Reuters reports: The fact-checking began on Wednesday in France with assistance from the news organization AFP and will soon expand to more countries and partners, Tessa Lyons, a product manager at Facebook, said in a briefing with reporters. Lyons did not say what criteria Facebook or AFP would use to evaluate photos and videos, or how much a photo could be edited or doctored before it is ruled fake. The project is part of "efforts to fight false news around elections," she said. Facebook has tried other ways to stem the spread of fake news. It has used third-party fact-checkers to identify them, and then given such stories less prominence in the Facebook News Feed when people share links to them.

4 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. Fact checking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, that means Conservative news will be eliminated & Liberal lies will be emphasized. Got it!

    1. Re:Fact checking by ckatko · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm blown away that Slashdotters are fine giving Facebook, a multi-billion dollar corporation, the benefit-of-the-doubt regarding their ability to regulate and censor "effectively and fairly."

      But literally the SAME FRONT PAGE they're out for blood over Facebook (THE SAME COMPANY) over their data collection and selling practices.

      If we can't trust them to not sell our data to ENEMY COUNTRIES, then how can we trust them to regulate and censor "non-facts"?

  2. I have an idea by Archon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know I know, it may sound really out there: don't form your voting decisions based on what you see on Facebook? It's an ad platform, not journalism.

  3. Past tense; it's already happening in Holland by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Getting arrested over satirical cartoon
    http://www.dw.com/en/dutch-cartoonist-arrested-released-for-anti-muslim-drawings/a-3340581