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Google rejected it would slow search results page to take on phony news after 2 reporters tweeted from a conference that the search giant was thinking about such a technique to fighting false information.
The rejection followed Alfred Hermida and Doris N. Truong tweeted that Google News lead Valerie Streit informed a personal group the search giant was thinking about such a strategy. The reporters were participating in an Online News Association conference in Austin,Texas
Streit tweeted her remarks had actually been misconstrued.
“I think my comment was misconstrued here,” Streit tweeted. “We are absolutely not slowing down search results.”
Hi folks, I believe my remark was misunderstood here. We are never decreasing search results page.
— Valerie Streit (@valstreit) September 14, 2018
An agent for Google likewise stated Streit’s remarks had actually been misinterpreted, which Google News isn’t thinking about such a modification.
The confusion comes as Google addresses installing criticism for the stories it highlights in searches, especially throughout crises. For example, after the Las Vegas shooting in October, Google showed a thread stemming on message board 4chan that called the incorrect suspect. Similarly, a video implicating a survivor of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting of being a “crisis actor” ended up being the leading trending product on YouTube, which is owned byGoogle
The business is dealing with the concern. In March, it revealed the Google News Initiative, a worldwide effort to partner with wire service to determine precise info in breaking news scenarios. It likewise devoted to assisting publishers produce sustainable income sources. It’s promised $300 million dollars over the next 3 years to satisfy these objectives.
At the ONA conference, Hermida, who’s likewise a journalism teacher, tweeted: “Interesting. Google News looking at ways of slowing down real-time information at times of crisis to tackle bad actors.”
Truong, a multimedia reporter, tweeted: “Someone from Google News says they are talking about possibly slowing real-time search results, especially in situations where possibility of manipulating information is high.” She later on responded to note it was Streit who had actually discussed the prospective technique.
Someone from Google News states they are discussing perhaps slowing real-time search results page, particularly in scenarios where possibility of controling info is high. #ona18stopdisinformation #ona18
— Doris N. Truong (@DorisTruong) September 14, 2018
First released Sep 14, 1: 08 p.m. PT.
Update, 2: 35 p.m. PT: Adds remark fromGoogle
Update, 3: 39 p.m. PT: Recasts, includes more context.
