Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has showed up at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Peru with the intention of urging everyone to post only honest and genuine narratives online. With the propagation of phony news becoming rampant, the world leaders' summit seems to be the perfect stage to denounce such preposterous activity.
Zuckerberg has pointed out that individuals in the other half of the world merely exist on the edge. With no access or whatsoever to the digital or technologically-driven sphere, these populations have been denied of the economic opportunities that would probably improve their lives. With so many prospects in the fields of science, education and medicine, he has called on leaders to contribute and connect with Facebook in admonishing this global predicament.
While speaking in front of the government and trade officials from the 21-nation APEC community, the social network's CEO sets a motivational tone that linking four billion people can make a difference for hundreds of millions of individuals mired in poverty.
Although numerous advancements can be acquired online, Facebook's top guy has also cautioned about one of the biggest perils of the internet superhighway. It is sad to note that untrue chronicles on the web are not only being patronized but are in fact being used as medium to further vested interests.
Dave McClure, founder of the 500 Startups organization, says that technology is a propaganda tool used to sow dissension of data.
As part of Facebook's program to repel bogus information, new methods are being applied to check the authenticity of the materials being proliferated. The tools include monitoring and identifying the false data so that users will have an idea in determining whether certain notes are just mere misinformation.
In line with this, Zuckerberg is exploring the possibility of working with fact-checking groups to maintain a benchmark that leans on true and honest contents. Flagging stories as pure sham is also being cited to be implemented upon the onset.
It is likely that the Facebook founder's campaign to check fictitious articles have been triggered by the information drive that has catapulted Donald Trump into the White House.
Zuckerberg has also taken his time on stage to shed light on his company's advertising policy. He stresses that ads suspected to mislead or deceive will not be posted.
