Tag: misinformation
1 in 3 internet users unaware online content may be false
Image: Ofcom.org.uk More than a third of internet users are unaware that online content might be false or biased, according to new Ofcom research. It reveals that 30% of UK adults who go online (14.5 million) are unsure about, or don’t even consider, the truthfulness of online information. A further 6%…
Tech Digest daily round up: Twitter trials misinformation reporting
Twitter is introducing a new feature on a trial basis to test the ability for users to report misleading posts. The move follows a wave of criticism of social media companies for facilitating the spread of misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Twitter currently allows users to report posts, the subsequent pop-up doesn't contain a…
Safer Internet Day: 1 in 2 children encounter misleading content daily
To mark this year’s Safer Internet Day, new research released today (9th February) shows young people are experiencing misleading content online on a daily basis. According to research from the coordinators the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC), 77% of young people (aged 8 - 17) surveyed feel that being online has been a more important…
Facebook removes more misinformation campaigns
Facebook said it has removed hundreds of accounts, pages and groups from the platform which were spreading misinformation about political issues in the Middle East. The accounts, which were part of a large network, originated in the UAE, Egypt and Nigeria posted content promoting the UAE and criticising Qatar, Turkey and Iran, Facebook said. The…
China now a ‘global disinformation superpower’, say researchers
China has become a major player in global social media manipulation campaigns, researchers say, amid an overall increase in the number of countries sharing misinformation online. According to the Oxford Internet Institute, organised social media manipulation has more than doubled since 2017, with 70 countries using computational propaganda to manipulate public opinion. The report says…
Facebook expands fact-checking programme for European elections
Facebook has expanded its use of independent fact-checking groups in Europe, as it looks to cut down on misinformation ahead of the European Parliament elections. The social network said five new groups – based in Northern Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Portugal and Lithuania – would rate and review the accuracy of stories posted on the platform.…
Facebook to make anti-vaccination content less visible
Facebook is to clamp down on anti-vaccination groups on the site, announcing it will reduce the ranking of pages that “spread misinformation” on the subject. The social network said it will also reject any adverts it finds include false information on the topic and will not show or recommend any content from Facebook and Instagram…
Google’s Jigsaw offers free anti-meddling tools ahead of EU elections
Google is giving political organisations in Europe free access to tools that tackle online attacks and disruption ahead of upcoming EU elections in May. The company’s cybersecurity incubator Jigsaw is making its Project Shield system available to campaigns and candidates, amid fears of election meddling. From today, the defence technology is being rolled out to…