Facebook Goes After Users Repeatedly Sharing Misinformation

Facebook Inc recently launched new ways to inform people if they’re interacting with content that’s been rated by a fact-checker as well as taking “stronger” action against people who repeatedly share misinformation on Facebook.  Whether it’s false or misleading content about COVID-19 and vaccines, climate change, elections, or other topics, Facebook will make sure fewer people see misinformation on its platform. 

Facebook will reduce the distribution of all posts in its news feed from a user account if it frequently shares content that has been flagged as false by one of the company’s fact-checking partners, the social media giant said in a blog post. (https://bit.ly/3oQ6HWy)

It added that it was also launching ways to inform people if they are interacting with content that has been rated by a fact-checker. False claims and conspiracies have proliferated on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company said in a statement. “Whether it’s false or misleading content about COVID-19 and vaccines, climate change, elections or other topics, we’re making sure fewer people see misinformation on our apps.”

Earlier this year, Facebook said it took down 1.3 billion fake accounts between October and December, ahead of an inspection by the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce into how technology platforms are tackling misinformation. 

Facebook, Twitter, and Google CEOs Grilled Over Online Misinformation

The leaders of Google, Facebook, and Twitter faced sharp questions from House lawmakers from both sides of the aisle on about misinformation’s role in the attack and the mental health of children who use their products, also escalating their calls for swift regulation of the tech industry but lawmakers got few direct answers.

In their first appearance before the United States Congress since supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol, the chief executives of Facebook, Google, and Twitter were asked by US policymakers whether their platforms bore some responsibility for the riot: “Yes or no?”

Social media has been widely blamed for amplifying calls to violence and spreading misinformation that contributed to the January 6 attempt to violently overturn the election results. Only Twitter Inc CEO Jack Dorsey replied “yes” to the question but said the “broader ecosystem” had to be taken into account. “It’s not just about the technology platforms we use,” he added.