Facebook, Twitter Fight Misinformation and Fake News

Washington: Social networking platforms Facebook and Twitter were busy battling misinformation and fake news as the US voted in the midterm elections on Tuesday. According to a report in USA Today late Tuesday, Facebook “swiftly removed misinformation, such as posts and memes, urging Republicans and Democrats to vote on the wrong day and claims that federal immigration agents would be patrolling polling places”. Twitter said it was combating voter suppression but “declined to share any details about what tweets were removed”. According to a CNET report, Facebook took action against inaccurate posts and memes that told Republicans and Democrats to vote on different days. Facebook on Monday said it blocked 30 accounts on its platform and 85 accounts on Instagram that may be engaged in “coordinated inauthentic behaviour” from foreign entities into the midterms. (IANS)

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