Facebook Fights Fake News - Badly

Uploaded on 2020-12-03 in TECHNOLOGY-Key Areas-Social Media, FREE TO VIEW

Facebook says on its website, “When it comes to fighting false news, one of the most effective approaches is removing the economic incentives for traffickers of misinformation... We've found that a lot of fake news is financially motivated. These spammers make money by masquerading as legitimate news publishers and posting hoaxes that get people to visit their sites, which are often mostly ads”.

However, some experts say that the social media giant has been completely ineffective in dealing with a barrage of misinformation

From complaints over fake news propagated by extremist groups over the US Presidentila elections, to ant-vaccine campaigns. Facebook seems to be repeatedly accused of being too slow in identifying then removing disinformation from its platform.

"Facebook was basically caught flat-footed, even though anybody who studies American politics would have known that one of our two political parties would do everything it could to de-legitimise the process,"says Siva Vaidhyanathan, professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia.  In his book  Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy Prof. Vaidhyanathan argues that  the nature of the platform itself makes it impossible to stop misinformation spreading. 

Facebook itself says that what users see on the platform was not about politics - suggesting Facebook is really all about photos of babies, not election conspiracy theories, but Prof. Vaidhyanathan compares Facebook to car ownership - great for individuals, but hugely damaging for the planet. "It's good for almost all of those 2.7 billion people individually or they never would have signed up and they would have resigned long ago. The problem is that collectively Facebook is a disaster for us." 

But getting people to give up Facebook may be even harder than persuading them to abandon their cars.

Facebook has vowed to keep fighting fake news on its platforms, even as it threatens to remove all credible local and international news sources from its users' feeds. In August it took down 7 million posts pushing Covid-19 misinformation from its main social media site and Instagram between April and June as the company tried to combat the rapid spread of dangerous information about the virus.

The company removed about 22.5 million posts with hate speech on its flagship app in the second quarter, a dramatic increase from 9.6 million in the first quarter. It attributed the jump to improvements in detection technology. It also deleted 8.7 million posts connected to “terrorist” organisations, compared with 6.3 million in the prior period. It took down less material from “organised hate” groups: 4 million pieces of content, compared to 4.7 million in the first quarter.

Facebook:      Reuters:       AFR:       Washington Post:        BBC:

You Might Also Read: 

Coming Soon: Regulation Of Social Media:

 

« SSL Encryption For Big Data Security In Cloud Computing
Hackers Target Coronavirus Vaccine Supply Chain »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point
Cyrin

Real Attacks. Real Tools. Real Scenarios.
Schedule a demo

Sign Up: Cyber Security Intelligence Newsletter

Directory of Suppliers

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

TÜV SÜD Academy UK

TÜV SÜD Academy UK

TÜV SÜD offers expert-led cybersecurity training to help organisations safeguard their operations and data.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

Hillstone Networks

Hillstone Networks

Hillstone Networks offers a broad range of security solutions for enterprises and data center networks – whether physical, virtual, or in the cloud.

CERT Syria

CERT Syria

CERT Syria is the national Computer Emergency Response Team for Syria.

Flipside

Flipside

Information Security training provider specialized in personalized training and security awareness campaigns.

TechStak

TechStak

TechStak is the easiest way for businesses to find and connect with IT Pros and other technology solution providers in their area.

Cyber Risk Aware

Cyber Risk Aware

Cyber Risk Aware provide a security awareness and phishing simulation platform that focuses on real threats and educates and empowers employees to be the first line of defence.

SpecterOps

SpecterOps

SpecterOps has unique insight into the cyber adversary mindset and brings the highest caliber, most experienced resources to assess your organizations defenses.

SyferLock Technology Corp.

SyferLock Technology Corp.

SyferLock is an innovative provider of next-generation authentication and security solutions.

Next Peak

Next Peak

Next Peak provides cyber advisory and operational services based on deep business and national security experience, thought leadership, and a network of front-line defenders.

Ascent Solutions

Ascent Solutions

Ascent is built to help firms evolve their cybersecurity posture, modernize their Microsoft solutions, and accelerate their journey to the cloud.

Ibento Global

Ibento Global

Ibento organises the CyberX series of cybersecurity conferences.

IDECSI

IDECSI

IDECSI delivers cutting-edge technology and engages all employees in the security system for effective and cost-efficient data protection.

WPScan

WPScan

With WPScan, you'll be the first to know about vulnerabilities affecting your WordPress installation, plugins, and themes.

Sardine

Sardine

Sardine is a leader in financial crime prevention. Using unparalleled device intelligence and behavior biometrics, Sardine applies machine learning to detect and stop fraud before it happens.

TraitWare

TraitWare

The TraitWare mission is to increase user and company security while simplifying access to digital and physical resources through the elimination of the need for usernames and passwords.

Corix Partners

Corix Partners

Corix Partners is a Boutique Management Consultancy Firm focused on assisting CIOs and other C-level executives in resolving Cyber Security Strategy, Organisation and Governance challenges.

RELIANOID

RELIANOID

RELIANOID is an application delivery controller and load balancing system that ensures high performance and security of IT services on a massive scale.