Tag: Fake News

• Thursday, April 18th 2019 - 09:43 UTC

  Transparency International blasts Brazilian Justice for violating freedom of expression

  

  A decision by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) to demand the suppression of a media report concerning one of the court’s sitting judges violates the freedom of the press, warns Transparency International Brazil. The demand to remove the report from the internet is unacceptable, risks the international image of Brazil and goes against fundamental principles of the democratic rule of law.

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• Monday, February 18th 2019 - 10:01 UTC

  MPs demand tough urgent action against Facebook to combat spread of fake news

  

  Facebook needs for stricter regulation, with tough and urgent action necessary to end the spread of disinformation on its platform, MPs have said. A House of Commons committee has concluded that the firm's founder Mark Zuckerberg failed to show “leadership or personal responsibility” over fake news.

• Wednesday, November 28th 2018 - 09:14 UTC

  Facebook's Zuckerberg blasted by politicians from nine countries for missing a hearing

  

  Politicians from nine countries reacted angrily to the absence of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at a hearing on Tuesday. The event is part of an unprecedented international inquiry into disinformation and fake news.

• Monday, November 5th 2018 - 08:40 UTC

  Brazilian media fearful of Bolsonaro's threats to cut public sector marketing budgets

  

  For Brazil's right-wing President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, attacking critical press outlets almost daily on social media is not enough. Once in office, he vows to hit their bottom line. With half a billion dollars in public-sector marketing budgets coming under his discretion, the former Army captain is threatening to slash ad buys with adversarial media groups, striking at the financial foundations of Brazil's free press.

• Thursday, November 1st 2018 - 08:28 UTC

  UK and Canadian lawmakers want to question Facebook's Zuckerberg on “fake news” and disinformation

  

  British and Canadian politicians have joined forces in calling on Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to explain “failures of process” regarding the spread of propaganda on the social network. Leading MPs from both parliaments co-signed a letter to Mr Zuckerberg announcing an “international grand committee” on “disinformation and fake news” to be held at the end of November.

• Friday, October 19th 2018 - 08:40 UTC

  Facebook's “war room” to combat fake news ahead of Brazil and US elections

  

  During the first round of Brazil's presidential election on 7 October, Facebook staff noticed something suspicious on the social network. A story posted to Facebook incorrectly claimed the election was delayed because of protests. The company's data scientists and operations team scrambled to pull down the misinformation before it went viral.

• Friday, October 5th 2018 - 08:34 UTC

  Haddad accuses Bolsonaro's team of fake news about him and his family

  

  The leading leftist candidate for Brazil's presidency accused front-runner Jair Bolsonaro of spreading falsehoods about him and his family on social media, as new polls showed the far-right candidate's lead widening with days before the vote. The accusations marked a shift in strategy for Workers' Party candidate Fernando Haddad, who had earlier avoided direct attacks on Bolsonaro.

• Friday, September 7th 2018 - 09:29 UTC

  Witch hunt season in the White House: fierce speculation as to an editorial “coup”

  

  A number of top US officials have denied that they are the author of a damning anonymous editorial that attacks President Donald Trump. The New York Times article, said to be written by a senior White House official, point out Mr Trump's appointees are trying to stifle his agenda.