The ad blocker has launched a new product called TrustedNews, which is going to distinguish between trustworthy and fake news.
CCN reports on the subject, saying that TrustedNews will only be available for Chrome users at first, but it`s expected to launch the extension on other browsers as well.
TrustedNews is relying on blockchain technology, and specifically, the MetaCert Protocol and uses independent, politically objective data sources to measure the truthfulness of news content, as the company claims. These sources are reportedly stated to be Wikipedia, PolitiFact, Melissa Zimdar`s List and Snopes. The Trusted News`s director of ecosystems, Ben Willians, has told CCN:
“For now the way that it works is that you have these sources… and what they will do is essentially give their rating on a particular site and then, basically, if everything isn’t all the same — which they usually are — then you would just go by the .”
So, while a user browses on the web, they get notifications from the Chrome extension that label content in three main categories:
Trustworthy – a website or page that publishes content based on facts and/or factual events.
Unknown – a website or page that can`t be evaluated due to insufficient data.
Untrustworthy – a website or page that is known to publish false and/or misleading information.
But that`s not all. TrustedNews can also inform its users about content that is intended as satire. Plus, they can also signalize that certain content is biased, malicious or suspicious, among other special states available on the service.
One limitation that is still to be addressed is providing a more detailed and thoroughly reliable analysis of news sources. Let`s wait and see how technology can be utilized to achieve that noble objective.
Do you think that technology can help fight fake news and manipulation on the internet? And if so, how can this be achieved in the best possible way? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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