Social media fights back against fake news
Facebook and other social media networks are taking steps to make sure their platforms don't become tools for foreign governments spreading "fake news" stories.
Experts consider the threat level high for these platforms to be used by foreign governments or other entities seeking to influence millions because of their extensive reach and ability to disseminate both malignant links and propaganda.
Concerns are particularly high about Russian actors using the platforms, due to recent reports that Russia sought to influence the 2016 elections.
Although they haven’t singled out Russia as the source of false information spreading across their platforms, Facebook and Google have been taking steps to combat hoaxes that distribute through mediums they control.
In December, Google rolled out a set of features and updates that allow users to flag potentially false stories as “disputed,” triggering a review for validity by independent organizations. Facebook also recently updated its algorithms to preemptively spot potential fake stories.
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/335370-social-media-platforms-take-steps-to-protect-users-from-fake-news
