Facebook Expands Fact-Checking Efforts to Images and Videos

Facebook announced Thursday that the company will begin fact-checking photos and videos in an effort to curb misinformation from spreading on the social-media platform. The company said it has developed a “machine learning model” that can flag potentially false content and send it to fact-checkers. Facebook said it would be targeting “manipulated or fabricated” pictures and footage, images that are used “out of context,” and those that make false claims via text or audio. The company pointed out that while the U.S. spreads more false news via articles, countries like Indonesia report seeing more misinformation in images. “People share millions of photos and videos on Facebook every day. We know that this kind of sharing is particularly compelling because it’s visual,” Antonia Woodford, a product manager, wrote. “That said, it also creates an easy opportunity for manipulation by bad actors.” This comes after the social network came under fire when false images of Rohingya Muslims burning their own homes spread on the site.