On 16th Feb 2019, Google presented a whitepaper at the Munich Security Conference explaining how it plans to combats disinformation over its various services. In this, they include efforts for fighting Google fake news covering Google News, Google Search, and YouTube, as well as their advertising platforms. Google has taken various steps in tackling the problem including partnering with fact-checking networks and launching their $300 million Google News Initiative.
What is “disinformation” or “fake news”?
Disinformation goes by various names including “fake news” and “misinformation”. Google defines disinformation in their whitepaper as
“Deliberate efforts to deceive and mislead using the speed, scale, and technologies of the open web”
The entities that engage in these acts often have a diverse set of goals as:
- Financial motivation: those looking to engage in disinformation for the sole purpose of turning a profit
- Political Motivation: those looking to foster certain viewpoints among the people or to exert pressure over the political processes
- Others engage in these acts for their entertainment. These are often called “trolls” or Cyberbullies.
How Does Google plan to tackle this situation?
At a high-level, their anti-fake news system includes three strategies tailored to suit their services.
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