Facebook to use artificial intelligence and a “learning machine” to help stop fake news. So much for political satire – PB/TK
Facebook releases plan to halt government manipulation of the platform – By Lauren C. Williams April 27 2017
Facebook is taking a hard stance against the weaponized use of fake news.
In a security report the social network released Thursday, the company named “information operations” or strategic actions governments and individuals use to distort public opinion as one of the platforms biggest challenges.
Unlike clicks-for-pay scams and hacks, information operations, which can amplify false news through fake accounts, are complex and not easily deterred. But Facebook said it will use machine learning and artificial intelligence to better identify and eliminate fake accounts that amplify false stories for political influence.
The 2016 presidential election, which saw multiple controversies around fake news and politically motivated hacks, was the impetus for the cybersecurity report and revealed evidence that larger disinformation campaigns were in play.
“During the 2016 U.S. presidential election season, we responded to several situations that we assessed to fit the pattern of information operations,” the report states. “We have no evidence of any Facebook accounts being compromised as part of this activity, but, nonetheless, we detected and monitored these efforts in order to protect the authentic connections that define our platform.”
Continue to thinkprogress.org article: https://thinkprogress.org/facebook-information-operations-report-e4b56c0e2733
