Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the opening keynote address at the f8 Developer Conference April 21, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)
Facebook is taking their online tools to tackle fake news in Germany as the country's government warns people of the fabricated stories spreading around social media. The same tools are available in the United States.
Fake news has become common in Facebook and other social networks. Since it is easy to setup a website or a blog, many have tried their hand at manipulating the users' perspective about current events.
One of the turning points for Facebook regarding fake news was when Mark Zuckerberg was pressured into doing something about the problem. Many users believe that the plethora of fake news managed to affect the outcome of the election in the U.S.
Facebook said in an official statement in German language that they will be putting the tools against fake news in Germany in the following weeks. One reason for the rollout of the tool is that German government officials have growing concerns that the fake news might infulenece their parliamentary election this year.
Many Facebook users instantly believe everything they read on the social media network. Besides fake news, there are even other misleading scientific facts and stories shared through photos.
Just like in the U.S. and other countries where the tool is available, Facebook users in Germany will be able to flag a link as a fake news. The report of the fake news will then be sent to the non-profit Correctiv for verification, BBC News reported.
What is disturbing is that the link or fake news article will not be banned from appearing in Facebook even after the third-party organization marks it as disputed. It will just appear lower in the News Feed.
People will still be able to share the fake news article or link even if it is mark as disputed but they will get a warning. Facebook's fake news tool in Germany may prove to be useful in fighting misinformation in the country.
Learn more about the Facebook fake news policy below:
