1. While we await the Iowa results, let me tell you a story about Facebook's dysfunctional fact-checking system
Even when absolutely everything goes right, it still doesn't work
Take today's false Judicial Watch report that I debunk in the thread below
Even when absolutely everything goes right, it still doesn't work
Take today's false Judicial Watch report that I debunk in the thread below
2. This was, of course, shared to the Judicial Watch Facebook page, where it has racked up 11K+ shares.
The post by Iowa's Republican Secretary of State revealing it was a lie got 24 shares.
This is endemic to the platform. Misinformation spreads more quickly than facts.
The post by Iowa's Republican Secretary of State revealing it was a lie got 24 shares.
This is endemic to the platform. Misinformation spreads more quickly than facts.
3. Facebook relies on third-party fact-checkers to rate content for misinformation.
There aren't nearly enough fact-checkers but, in this case, one of them took a look.
And VERY QUICKLY rated Judicial Watch's report FALSE
Hooray!
But wait...
hoax-alert.leadstories.com/3471591-fake-n…
There aren't nearly enough fact-checkers but, in this case, one of them took a look.
And VERY QUICKLY rated Judicial Watch's report FALSE
Hooray!
But wait...
hoax-alert.leadstories.com/3471591-fake-n…
4. If you try to share Judicial Watch's false report on Facebook, you now get a warning.
That's a good step BUT Judicial Watch also has placed a paid ad promoting the report.
While politicians can lie, orgs like Judicial Watch can't according to the rules
That's a good step BUT Judicial Watch also has placed a paid ad promoting the report.
While politicians can lie, orgs like Judicial Watch can't according to the rules
5. In general everyone is still free to lie in Facebook ads because such a small number of items are actually fact checked.
But here is a rare case where the link being advertised was fact-checked.
BUT THE JUDICIAL WATCH AD IS STILL UP
But here is a rare case where the link being advertised was fact-checked.
BUT THE JUDICIAL WATCH AD IS STILL UP
6. I contacted Facebook about this initially almost three hours ago.
I got a response back around 40 minutes ago, saying the ad should be taken down soon.
But the ad is still up.
Facebook had $7 billion in profit in the last three months but apparently this isn't automated?
I got a response back around 40 minutes ago, saying the ad should be taken down soon.
But the ad is still up.
Facebook had $7 billion in profit in the last three months but apparently this isn't automated?
7. UPDATE: Just as I completed this thread, the ad was finally taken down.
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8. I'll also note that, in this case, Twitter is behaving worse than Facebook. It is doing nothing about this false info, despite making a big show a few days ago about cracking down on voting disinformation.
9. The idea that leveling false claims about voter fraud is not part of voter suppression efforts is false. Twitter should get people who better understand how this work to be involved in the process.
