Facebook to take action against users repeatedly sharing misinformation

Facebook is launching ways to inform people if they are interacting with content that has been rated by a fact-checker. (File/AFP)

• Facebook will take action in order to reduce misinformation posts on its platform.
• Among the steps taken are reducing the distribution of posts containing misinformation, and alerting users of their interaction with such posts.

Facebook Inc. said on Wednesday it would take “stronger” action against people who repeatedly share misinformation on the platform.

Facebook will reduce the distribution of all posts in its news feed from a user account if it frequently shares content that has been flagged as false by one of the company’s fact-checking partners, the social media giant said in a blog post.

It added that it was also launching ways to inform people if they are interacting with content that has been rated by a fact-checker.

False claims and conspiracies have proliferated on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Whether it’s false or misleading content about COVID-19 and vaccines, climate change, elections or other topics, we’re making sure fewer people see misinformation on our apps,” the company said in a statement.

Earlier this year, Facebook said it took down 1.3 billion fake accounts between October and December, ahead of an inspection by the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce into how technology platforms are tackling misinformation.