City
Epaper

How Facebook fought fake news about itself

By IANS | Updated: July 9, 2019 20:10 IST

Facebook deployed software programmes like Stormchaser and "Night's Watch" for years to track and curb fake news and misinformation about itself along with WhatsApp, the media reported.

Open in App

According to a Bloomberg report that quoted former Facebook employees, the social media giant actively monitored perception of itself on the platform.

"It used a dedicated software programme called Stormchaser to track viral negative rumours and hoaxes about itself, both on Facebook and on WhatsApp".

Users who posted such misinformation or hoaxes might be greeted with a friendly rebuttal from Facebook.

Stormchaser even tracked joke memes claiming CEO Mark Zuckerberg was an alien.

The former employees, however, argued that Facebook should have used Stormchaser to fight misinformation about issues that affect the world.

Another software programme called "Night's Watch" (named after HBO's famous 'Game of Thrones' series) helped the company observe how news stories about itself spread on social media.

Stormchaser was also allegedly used to track #deleteFacebook protests.

The data from "Stormchaser was also used to send people in India and Brazil more information about a plan for WhatsApp to share account information with its parent company, Facebook".

Facebook, said the report that came out on Tuesday, has now stopped using Stormchaser but the technology still exists.

The social networking giant with over 2.38 billion users is busy fighting the spread of fake news and misinformation on its platform, amid the governments' scrutiny over users' privacy violations.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Mark ZuckerbergBloombergHBOindia
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalIndian Student in Canada Shares Gruelling Work-Study Routine, Internet Reacts

InternationalDonald Trump Hellhole Remarks: Iran’s Mumbai Consulate Takes Dig at the US President With Cultural Jab

InternationalIranian President Calls for Constructive Role of Brics to Halt West Asia Conflict During Talks With PM Modi

LifestyleEid 2026 Date: When Will Saudi Arabia, UAE and India Celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr?

MaharashtraMaharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Unfurls 200-Foot National Flag at Nagpur’s Kasturchand Park

टेकमेनिया Realted Stories

TechnologyS. Korea's auto exports down over 5 pc in April amid Middle East crisis

TechnologyIndia’s AI job postings surge nearly 6x since 2019

TechnologySouth Korea needs to bolster strategic ties with India: Report

TechnologyMaruti Suzuki India launches Smart Factory Lab for skill development in Lucknow

TechnologyANRF selects 10 research centres to boost multidisciplinary innovation