Google doubles down on fact-checking the internet – CNET

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This is what it looks like when Google fact-checks claims online. 

Google

When you google something, it’s not always clear if the answer that emerges is real or fake. This is something Google has grappled with over the past year as it tries to get a handle on viral propaganda and internet hoaxes.

To battle the phenomenon of “fake news,” Google announced Thursday that it’s partnering with the International Fact-Checking Network at The Poynter Institute. The idea is to enlist the network’s help to increase the number of verified fact checkers on the internet.

“Fact checking articles — when a journalist looks at one single statement or issue and either verifies or debunks it — is important in today’s climate because it helps readers better understand viral news stories and relevant issues,” Erica Anderson, partnerships manager at Google News Lab, wrote in a blog post.

The spread of fake news has caused public scorn for companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter, as the tech giants have failed to keep up. Google has pledged to help stop the spread of fake news, but the false content has still found a way to slip past the search engine.