Facebook to take down fake news and misinformation from its platform: Report

Facebook has said it will start removing fake news and misinformation after mounting criticism that the flow of rumours on its platform has sparked violence and led to physical harm to people in countries around the world, including in India, according to media reports.

Presently, Facebook bans content that directly calls for violence but the new policy will cover fake news that has the potential to stir up physical harm which includes both written posts and manipulated images, CNET reported.

Facebook has been accused of helping to spur violence in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India. The social network also has drawn intense criticism for its policies surrounding misinformation in general. The social network said last week that it would not ban InfoWars, a right-wing website known for pushing conspiracy theories, the report said.

In India, Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp is facing the flak for allowing the circulation of large number of irresponsible messages filled with rumours and provocation that has led to growing instances of lynching of innocent people.

The company will work with local organisations to help judge which posts fall under that category. If Facebook can't make a definitive call working with one organisation, it might bring in other organizations to help, the report said.

"There are certain forms of misinformation that have contributed to physical harm, and we are making a policy change which will enable us to take that type of content down," a Facebook spokeswoman was quoted as saying. "We will be begin implementing the policy during the coming months."