Facebook created a computer algorithm to scrub fake news from its site, but didn’t use it because it disproportionately affected conservative posts, according to a report.
“They absolutely have the tools to shut down fake news,” a Gizmodo source said.
Facebook execs, however, balked on activating the algorithms after the site got flak in May for reportedly using human moderators to suppress conservative news in its “Trending Topics,” according to the tech blog.
Gizmodo’s Monday report “is not true,” Facebook said in a statement. “We did not build and withhold any News Feed changes based on their potential impact on any one political party.”
Last week, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said accusations that fake news may have tipped the presidential race to Donald Trump were “pretty crazy.”
Fake news headlines that cropped up on Facebook ahead of the election included “Pope Francis Shocks World, Endorses Donald Trump for President.”