Facebook is overwhelmed by false news before the European Parliament elections
A new study by the non-profit Avaz group revealed that Facebook was flooded with misleading information ahead of EU elections, despite efforts by the social network to prevent counterfeit news from spreading.
Over the past three months, Avaz researchers have found 550 pages and a collection of 328 profiles that publish misleading information in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Poland and Spain. Avaz, which reported Facebook accounts, reported that the social network pulled 77 pages and a collection, Personally.
By then, the damage had already been done. According to the study, the misleading information published by groups, pages and accounts removed by Facebook saw an estimated 533 million times in three months.
The results released Wednesday in Europe raise questions about whether Facebook efforts to combat election interference and counterfeit news are successful.
"The size and sophistication of these networks makes them weapons of mass destruction against democracy and are now directed directly to Europe," said Christoph Schott, who is in charge of the study. "The most worrying thing is that the study only scratches the surface and there may be many, many.
The European parliamentary elections will be held between May 23 and May 26, and the social network is trying to convince the public with legislators that they are doing more to fight false news and interfere in the elections.
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