Internet companies join forces with French news organisations to combat ‘fake news’

Facebook and Google are cooperating with French news organisations (including Agence France-Presse and Le Monde) to minimise the risk of fake news affecting France’s upcoming presidential election. The collaboration plans to launch new fact-checking tools. Facebook will rely on users to flag fake news and have it subsequently fact-checked by the partner organisations. Content that is then deemed to be fake will be tagged with an icon the demonstrate that the message is contested. Facebook is taking similar steps in Germany.