Facebook Germany says it will start tackling fake news in weeks
The social media platform will make it easier to report suspected fake news items and work with external fact-checking organisations
Frankfurt — Facebook said on Sunday it would update its social media platforms in Germany within weeks to reduce the dissemination of fake news. "Last month we announced measures to tackle the challenge of fake news on Facebook," the US technology company’s German-language newsroom said. "We will put these updates in place in Germany in the coming weeks." German Justice Minister Heiko Mass has repeatedly called on Facebook to respect laws against defamation in Germany that are stricter than those in the US. Other government officials have expressed concern that fake news and "hate speech" on the internet could influence a parliamentary election in September in which chancellor Angela Merkel will seek a fourth term in office. The Facebook note said the company would make it easier to report items suspected to be fake news and work with external fact-checking organisations. One of those, German-based Correctiv, has signed the US Poynter International Fact-Checking Code of Principles, ...
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