itstargetnews
Some media outlets and fact-checking organizations likened fact-checkers to first responders battling conspiracy theory “wildfires” as fires continue to spread throughout Los Angeles County.
On Monday, CNN published a report Meta cancels its third-party fact-checking system It criticized the decision given “misinformation” about the wildfires themselves.
The title of this article is One reporter likened fact-checkers to the fire department, quoting one reporter as saying, “Meta’s fact-checkers are about to lose their jobs and they’re fighting a slew of wildfire conspiracy theories.”
Basic phone numbers for Los Angeles area residents and how you can help them
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced last week that the social media company would be discontinuing its fact-checking system. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
“Rumors and speculation about the disaster began to circulate online like glowing embers, eventually turning into vast conspiracy theories,” the article reads.
Alan Duke, a former CNN reporter who co-founded the Meta-funded fact-checking outfit, added: “Removing fact-checkers from social platforms would be like disbanding the fire department.”
Other sites have used similar language, likening fact-checkers to firefighters battling wildfires, while news about the Los Angeles fires continues to evolve.
A few hours before the wildfire broke out on January 7, Full Fact CEO Chris MorrisHe, whose company is affiliated with Facebook, used the term “first responder” to describe fact-checkers while expressing his frustration.
Some fact-checkers and media commentators likened conspiracy theories to “wildfires” and fact-checkers to “first responders.” (Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)
“From safeguarding elections to protecting public health to calming potential unrest in the streets, fact-checkers are the first responders in the information environment,” the statement said. “Our experts are trained to promote reliable evidence and prioritize harmful We believe the public has access to our expertise.”
on Sunday, Forbes reports While denouncing Mehta’s decision as an “ominous sign”, the growth of conspiracy theories was likened to “wildfire”.
Click here for more media and cultural coverage
“This is not just a corporate decision, but part of a social crisis,” the Forbes article reads. “At a time when conspiracy theories are spreading like wildfire and trust in institutions is at an all-time low, the most powerful companies on earth are One is abdicating its responsibility to combat misinformation.”
A former CNN reporter claimed that eliminating fact-checkers would be like dismantling the fire department. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
In a video posted to Facebook on January 7, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admits Since its founding in 2016, the company’s content moderation practices have gone “too far.”
“We’re going back to our roots to focus on reducing errors, simplifying policies, and restoring free speech on our platform,” Zuckerberg said. “More specifically, we’re getting rid of fact-checkers and replacing them with community annotations that look like , starting from the United States”
Although Zuckerberg explained his decision as a way to promote “free expression” online, many liberal commentators Attacking the idea of eliminating fact-checkers is “extremely dangerous.”
Click here to get the Fox News app
