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[kirblar]

http://www.theverge.com/2016/11/14/13630722/google-fake-news-advertising-ban-2016-us-election

Alphabet Inc's Google said on Monday it is working on a policy change to prevent websites that misrepresent content from using its AdSense advertising network, a move aimed at halting the spread of "fake news" and other types of misinformation on the internet.

The shift comes as Google, Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc face a backlash over the role they played in the U.S. presidential election by allowing the spread of false and often malicious information that might have swayed voters toward Republican candidate Donald Trump.

The issue has provoked a fierce debate within Facebook especially, with Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg insisting twice in recent days that the site had no role in influencing the election.

Rather, the change is aimed at assuring that publishers on the network are legitimate and eliminating the financial incentives that appear to have driven the production of much fake news.

"Moving forward, we will restrict ad serving on pages that misrepresent, misstate, or conceal information about the publisher, the publisher's content, or the primary purpose of the web property," Google said in a statement.

 

[superbeau]

So Breitbart?

 

[Vermillion]

Nice! Sometimes it takes something horrible to happen before people recognize a need to change. Let's hope the next four years is relatively tame.

 

[BBboy20]

The world is changing already.

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

I'm still in the dark about these fake stories, someone give me the broad strokes I feel like I missed something important.

 

[gutter_trash]

1 week too late

 

[MMarston]

1 year too late

ftfy

 

[RainForce]

Good. If you're going to fake something and pass it off as real, you don't need to be getting paid over it.

 

[HighResTomato]

Start directing traffic to websites that align with Google's interest.

 

[jurgen]

It'll be interesting to see how this shakes out. I don't think Donald Trump is the only thing we've been cursed with because of these shitty sites.

That being said, being able to claim pure objectivity is going to be a motherfucker of a sell on Google's part.

 

[Foffy]

CENSORSHIP, they will cry.

 

[Dan]

Start directing traffic to websites that align with Google's interest.

That isn't at all what's being proposed here. This has nothing to do with Google's search engine results.

 

[Boem]

That was a quick turnaround from that leak earlier about protesting Facebook employees having to speak to the press anonymously.

I have doubts about how useful this will be. It's not really the ads that are the problem, mostly people sharing nonsense and getting an insane amounts for likes and shares for it, I think.

 

[dopplr]

I'm still in the dark about these fake stories, someone give me the broad strokes I feel like I missed something important.

I believe the main issue was that different people's facebook accounts were filled with media that was related to their opinion thus bubbling them from the actual world. IE. Hillary supporters were being fed pro Hillary content and anti Trump content and vice versa.

This has been in effect already in many different ways, one of the easiest is just google something while logged into your google account then do it using incognito or whatever private browsing option available. You'll see, in some cases extremely differing results.

Correct me if wrong.

 

[AuthenticM]

yes! YES!!

 

[Dishwalla]

Gee I wonder why they are doing this now.

 

[Bronx-Man]

Bannon wept.

 

[human5892]

Who's to say what's "real" news? the ESTABLISHMENT?

This whole internet thing is starting to look like a swamp in need of draining..............

 

[Davide]

So Breitbart?

First post gets it

 

[LegalEagleMike]

what if I feel like it is real news.

 

[Frozenprince]

Start directing traffic to websites that align with Google's interest.

This is just adsense not being able to be used by sites that lie to generate foot traffic. That's all it is. Same way sites that are full of obscenities struggle to get advertising.

 

[MogCakes]

I wonder how long it takes until Brietbart and co. start trying to discredit Google as unpatriotic and suggest hostile armed takeover.

 

[Somnid]

Makes much more sense for Google than Facebook. Facebook being a user generated content aggregator means it has to second-guess users friends which is antithetical to their business. Google is just an ad provider. Still, I have strong reservations over how such policies are implemented.

 

[TemplaerDude]

Start directing traffic to websites that align with Google's interest.

Ha ha, a fake response in a thread about fake news, well done!

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

Too little, too fucking late. This election had changed the course of history for the worse. Hey but good on you for attempting to put a bandaid on the faster melting icecaps.

 

[Zaventem]

Thank god something good came from this.

 

[CrazedProfessional]

Drain the swamp says white man swimming in neighboring swamp

 

[Debirudog]

should have done it a long time ago.

 

[Dan]

I believe the main issue was that different people's facebook accounts were filled with media that was related to their opinion thus bubbling them from the actual world. IE. Hillary supporters were being fed pro Hillary content and anti Trump content and vice versa.

This has been in effect already in many different ways, one of the easiest is just google something while logged into your google account then do it using incognito or whatever private browsing option available. You'll see, in some cases extremely differing results.

Correct me if wrong.

No. This isn't about echo chambers.

It's rampant proliferation of explicitly false news, like claiming the Pope endorsed Donald Trump for President. Buzzfeed, I believe, did an analysis of some of the popular right and left sites surging in shares on Facebook and found like 38% of the articles from the right and 19% from the left were utter bullshit.

It's clickbait mixed with utter fabrication. People are prone to share bullshit headlines that reinforce their beliefs, regardless of how false or poorly sourced they are.

 

[WiiredShawn]

I'm glad that Google is taking this step, albeit too late. I'm not sure how they'll actually enforce the policy - will people report malicious website and Google will investigate? They're going to have to commit some manpower to this (of course, they can afford it).

 

[CoffeeJanitor]

Fantastic. Hope this type of filter is added to other search areas soon

We're in the age of yellow internet journalism right now

 

[Kinitari]

So this is like those 'these 12 Saudi princes have a secret investment that made them billions!' sorts of fake news, or the 'alien baby of Will Smith found in the desert' fake news, or is it the 'Clinton email scandal sparks outrage and possible criminal charges' fake news?

 

[DMczaf]

Way too late for this, Google....

 

[NimbusD]

So Breitbart?

literally everyone's first thought.

 

[Trey]

I believe the main issue was that different people's facebook accounts were filled with media that was related to their opinion thus bubbling them from the actual world. IE. Hillary supporters were being fed pro Hillary content and anti Trump content and vice versa.

This has been in effect already in many different ways, one of the easiest is just google something while logged into your google account then do it using incognito or whatever private browsing option available. You'll see, in some cases extremely differing results.

Correct me if wrong.

No, it's for stuff like this: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wa...-goes-to-a-fake-news-site-with-false-numbers/

 

[rrs]

I'm still in the dark about these fake stories, someone give me the broad strokes I feel like I missed something important.

simply, tabloid tier garbage spreading through clickbait and nobody doing anything about it because shrug shift-jis art

 

[HighResTomato]

That isn't at all what's being proposed here. This has nothing to do with Google's search engine results.

This is just adsense not being able to be used by sites that lie to generate foot traffic. That's all it is. Same way sites that are full of obscenities struggle to get advertising.

My bad, I stand corrected.

Ha ha, a fake response in a thread about fake news, well done!

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

See ya Newsmax.

 

[Haly]

Trump already making the internet great again.

 

[Dan]

People could always read the article if they don't understand...

Rather, the change is aimed at assuring that publishers on the network are legitimate and eliminating the financial incentives that appear to have driven the production of much fake news.

"Moving forward, we will restrict ad serving on pages that misrepresent, misstate, or conceal information about the publisher, the publisher's content, or the primary purpose of the web property," Google said in a statement.

The company did not detail how it would implement or enforce the new policy.

MACEDONIA NEWS

AdSense, which allows advertisers to place text ads on the millions of websites that are part of Google's network, is a major source of money for many publishers.

A report in BuzzFeed News last month showed how tiny publishers in Macedonia were creating websites with fake news - much of it denigrating Clinton - which were widely shared on Facebook.

That sharing in turn led people to click on links which brought them to the Macedonian websites, which could then make money on the traffic via AdSense.

The issue of fake news is critical for Google from a business standpoint, as many advertisers do not want their brands to be touted alongside dubious content. Google must constantly hone its systems to try to stay one step ahead of unscrupulous publishers, the former employee said.

I would highlight that last bit as notable.

 

[SwolBro]

about time. it's crazy there wasn't some type of filter for this already

 

[Ourobolus]

At least The Onion will be safe since they are basically reporting fact since about six months ago.

 

[Electric Eye]

The real problem is the geriatric network aka Facebook. Old people live on that shit like that's the internet too them.

 

[Damerman]

a glimmer of hope... but google has always been like this. Will get a google pixel as soon as it's available on T-Mobile... will also try to log into google plus more often.

take notes facebook.

 

[wenis]

I wonder how long it takes until Brietbart and co. start trying to discredit Google as unpatriotic and suggest hostile armed takeover.

That's when Google introduces their first ANDROIDS. Killer and loaded with plasma guns.

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

simply, tabloid tier garbage spreading through clickbait and nobody doing anything about it because shrug shift-jis art

Bat boy taken seriously? Moon pies what a time to be alive!

 

[Deleted member 80556]

Only took a Trump presidency for them to change. Wonder if, with the increase of online bullying to feminists and other advocates, Twitter will finally attack cyber-bullying head on.

I also hope that this lights a fire under Facebook's ass to tackle this as well.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

I believe the main issue was that different people's facebook accounts were filled with media that was related to their opinion thus bubbling them from the actual world. IE. Hillary supporters were being fed pro Hillary content and anti Trump content and vice versa.

This has been in effect already in many different ways, one of the easiest is just google something while logged into your google account then do it using incognito or whatever private browsing option available. You'll see, in some cases extremely differing results.

Correct me if wrong.

It's not just that it's that people are linking completely fake an non factual "news" articles. I have a relative that does this constantly. She in her 50's and they're not political. Just general "you won't believe!" News story's that are fake.

And yea I see alot of fake political shit too. It just turns Facebook into a cesspool. What would help is a way to filter out ALL political and news posts across my entire feed.

If I want news I'll visit a relatively reputable website dedicated to it.

 

[Dan]

Only took a Trump presidency for them to change. Wonder if, with the increase of online bullying to feminists and other advocates, Twitter will finally attack cyber-bullying head on.

Twitter might, if only to make themselves more appealing as an acquisition target. Time will tell if they can succeed.

I also hope that this lights a fire under Facebook's ass to tackle this as well.

Gizmodo has a report today claiming Facebook had developed systems to de-prioritize fake news but ran away from implementing it because it would target more rightwing bullshit than leftist bullshit, simply due to who's producing the shit.

 

[Astaleview]

It's never to late to fix things. This is great.