Facebook to warn users who 'liked' coronavirus hoaxes

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By BARBARA ORTUTAY and AMANDA SEITZ

Facebook will soon let you know if you shared or interacted with dangerous coronavirus misinformation on the site, the latest in a string of aggressive efforts the social media giant is taking to contain an outbreak of viral falsehoods.

The new notice will be sent to users who have clicked on, reacted to, or commented on posts featuring harmful or false claims about COVID-19 after they have been removed by moderators. The alert, which will start appearing on Facebook in the coming weeks, will direct users to a site where the World Health Organization lists and debunks virus myths and rumors.

Facebook, Google and Twitter are introducing stricter rules, altered algorithms and thousands of fact checks to stop the spread of bad misinformation online about the virus.

Challenges remain. Tech platforms have sent home human moderators who police the platforms, forcing them to rely on automated systems to take down harmful content. They are also up against people’s mistrust of authoritative sources for information, such as the WHO.



This undated image provided by Facebook shows the Facebook app on a cellular telephone. Facebook will soon let you know if you shared or interacted with dangerous coronavirus misinformation on the site, the latest in a string of aggressive efforts the social media giant is taking to contain an outbreak of viral falsehoods. (Facebook via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/348d772c8a5e305fb8006aae0a8cab84

[KPN]

1. I'm supposed to trust Facebook, trust Mark Zuckerberg about what is truth and what is fiction?

Related to Covid-19 and other viral info? Thanks but no thanks. Better to just boycott Facebook entirely.

[pnwmom]

3. This isn't about people like you. It's about people who remain on Facebook and aren't smart enough

to figure out which sources are reliable and which are not.

[KPN]

4. So you trust them then. Okay.

[pnwmom]

6. I trust the WHO more than Trump propaganda. nt

[KPN]

10. Me too of course. But I don't trust FB to do a trustworthy

job of what posts/info should be flagged and readers directed to WHO. FB has not been trustworthy whatsoever in defending democracy. Why would I trust them to do a good job with this?

[pnwmom]

12. I'm not relying on FB. I post factual stuff on FB all the time, so the people who do rely on it

have one more chance to see it.

If all the science-supporting people left Facebook, I don't think that would help. As it is, I've frequently had people thank me for posting as I do.

[KPN]

16. I understand.

[Gore1FL]

14. At least they are making an effort to debunk in this case.

They are an imperfect brand, but at least they are making an effort to counter the misinformation about this issue. I submit we should probably contain our criticism of them to what they are doing wrong.

[KPN]

17. THat's legit ... andf I understand pnwmom's point -- that's also legit for her.

I'm okay with that. Me? I'm just not giving FB the benefit of the doubt anymore. They've earned my skepticism plus some as far as I'm concerned. I'll praise them when they actually show results. At this point, it's just "public relations" as far as I'm concerned. Admittedly, I'm a skeptic when it comes to larger corporations/big money.

[MosheFeingold]

19. Tough call

You have Trump, who is an idiot, on one side.

And then on the other, you have an organization that is a shill for Big Pharma (and a revolving door, to boot) and the Chinese Communist Party, which is guilty of the largest genocide of the 21st Century (Uyghurs -- no one cares because they are Muslim), and clearly lied about the severity of the problem (and possibly its source).

It's a tough call, actually.

I prefer to distrust them both.

And distrust giant corporations like Facebook to have our best interest in mind.

[lagomorph777]

21. I'm happy if they really do it, but I'll always maintain social distancing from Falsebook and Twit.

However, I know billions of idiots trust Putin's Platforms, so any actual disinfection of their polluted content is welcome.

[Initech]

2. Can they do the same with anti-vaxxers?

[nilram]

5. Just. Delete. Those. Posts.

Delete them! Maybe the users, too, they’re probably bots, most of them.

[greyl]

7. OP article is about additional steps taken after deleting the posts. nt

[nilram]

8. That is something! Thank you!!!

[Blue Owl]

9. Maybe they could make a clever little animation

With the user on a cheesy-looking fake roller coaster with the false info bot

[Sloumeau]

11. As if I am going to trust Facebook's judgement.

That weasel Zuckerberg started his company by stealing someone else's idea.

[WVreaper]

13. Does this mean that Twitter will suspend the Donald?

Just asking.

[Hekate]

15. About time. That's one big step toward them becoming "good citizens". nt

[orleans]

18. too bad they didn't bother doing something like this

back in 2016 with the election crap that was rampant on fb
(we might not have found ourselves in this desperate situation if fb had alerted idiot users to bot posts, r.t. posts, bullshit fox news "opinions" concealed as "truths." and too bad fb said they won't be bothered with crap like that for this election season)

[IronLionZion]

20. This happened with that story of COVID detected on a cruise ship after 17 days

it turned out CNBC sensationalized it and drew different conclusions from what the CDC had reported. Their story completely ignored the half-life of the viral load on various materials.

People are afraid and online more often during stay at home so these stories can draw a lot of attention and panic.