Apple working to combat fake news in News app, Eddy Cue says
Apple's internet service chief Eddy Cue in an interview Monday night said the tech sector has a responsibility to protect consumers from the recent scourge of fake news, revealing Apple is working on backend solutions to the problem.
When asked about fake news, Cue said it is the onus of all companies in the technology and services industries to ensure the problem does not spread. To do so, news sources and companies who disseminate news, like Apple and its News app, need to halt the spread of fake news whenever possible.
"Since the vast majority of news is now being read through devices, and through services that are provided through those devices, then I do think that we all have a responsibility for it," Cue said.
Since last year's presidential election, fake news has quickly morphed from a disinformation campaign to a real journalistic problem. A number of websites are dedicated to churning out false news stories that often reinforce previously held beliefs on hot-button topics like immigration, crime and the economy. These fake news items go viral on social media outlets like Facebook, and while most are recognized as false, some make it into the legitimate news cycle.
The issue has also impacted the highest levels of government, with Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway spreading her own bit of misinformation by justifying the president's travel ban as a response to terrorist acts like the "Bowling Green massacre." The referenced incident never happened. She later claimed to have referenced the arrest of Iraqi refugees in Bowling Green, Ky., in relation to charges of allegedly aiding terror organization al-Qaeda.
Apple does not have an answer to fake news "by any means," Cue said, but the company is working on methods to combat its spread.
"We wanted Apple News to be available to everyone, but we want to vet and make sure that the news providers are legitimate," he said, adding, "We're very concerned about all of the news items and the clickbait from that standpoint, and that driving a lot of the news coverage," he said. "We're trying to do some things in Apple News, we're learning from that and we need to share that together as an industry and improve it."
Cue failed to detail what, exactly, Apple is trying to do with Apple News, but he seemed adamant that the entire industry needs to workshop a solution.
The revelation comes after Apple CEO Tim Cook in a recent interview said fake news is "killing people's minds."
When asked about fake news, Cue said it is the onus of all companies in the technology and services industries to ensure the problem does not spread. To do so, news sources and companies who disseminate news, like Apple and its News app, need to halt the spread of fake news whenever possible.
"Since the vast majority of news is now being read through devices, and through services that are provided through those devices, then I do think that we all have a responsibility for it," Cue said.
Since last year's presidential election, fake news has quickly morphed from a disinformation campaign to a real journalistic problem. A number of websites are dedicated to churning out false news stories that often reinforce previously held beliefs on hot-button topics like immigration, crime and the economy. These fake news items go viral on social media outlets like Facebook, and while most are recognized as false, some make it into the legitimate news cycle.
The issue has also impacted the highest levels of government, with Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway spreading her own bit of misinformation by justifying the president's travel ban as a response to terrorist acts like the "Bowling Green massacre." The referenced incident never happened. She later claimed to have referenced the arrest of Iraqi refugees in Bowling Green, Ky., in relation to charges of allegedly aiding terror organization al-Qaeda.
Apple does not have an answer to fake news "by any means," Cue said, but the company is working on methods to combat its spread.
"We wanted Apple News to be available to everyone, but we want to vet and make sure that the news providers are legitimate," he said, adding, "We're very concerned about all of the news items and the clickbait from that standpoint, and that driving a lot of the news coverage," he said. "We're trying to do some things in Apple News, we're learning from that and we need to share that together as an industry and improve it."
Cue failed to detail what, exactly, Apple is trying to do with Apple News, but he seemed adamant that the entire industry needs to workshop a solution.
The revelation comes after Apple CEO Tim Cook in a recent interview said fake news is "killing people's minds."
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Comments
Start by dropping the New York Times.
People are lazy and they expect journalists to do the investigative work for them, as they should, and not have to scour the internet to verify if the cited sources indeed check out. Fix the credibility issue by either having main stream media clean up their act or provide a solid and easy to find alternative for the masses that they can rely on.
I dont need Apple or anyone else "curating" my news according to what they deem appropriate. Or what they feel should be called "real."
the scaru part part of this whole stupidly named "fake news" phenomena is that it's nothing new. It's something that's been around forever. You'll have FOX and CNN reporting the same thing with different perspectives and then you'll have the inquirer.., or another more obscure source.
People know now what's what.
If if anything it's been the people crying "fake news!" Who've spread the fake news so far.
Like this article for example. You don't just get a report. You get someone's opinion about the facts.
You want ant a laugh? Read the pentagon report on Russia's "hacking" of the election. Somehow they managed to call trying to influence people via the internet (like that's anything new - see al queda, isis, Al Jazeera, Obama, Russia, Korea, etc) "hacking." It's a joke. Somehow some democrats having inadequate security which was taken advantage of by a known hostile power (no laughing matter) ge S turned into a kardashian level attack on the election integrity.
In reality, people voted for who they wanted, the states with most electoral votes ensured due process and boom. We have a legit election. Just as it has been. No hacking, etc.
Losing control of the narrative doesn't constitute hacking. It just means people have thought for themselves and didn't make the choices you'd have preferred. People aren't robots to be manipulated and this election proves it. Instead of rioting and harming your fellow citizens, you should respect their choice. Just as they have yours the last 8 years.
Its re those who are screaming about fake Jews like it's this new thandroid by that I'm confused bcerned about. Sounds more like a play to force feed you their agenda while having you unknowingly agree to it under the guise of killing an imaginary monster.
THAT would indeed be killing peoples minds.
The whole fake news is the extremist's explanation as to why they lost. It couldn't simply be they ran the least popular person in the country who has been constantly mired in scandals and has the lowest popularity rating. So now they want to try and censor the news because they think everyone but them is an idiot, and can't tell fake news from real news. As though we all stand in line at the supermarket and really think Elvis Presley is still alive and that Angelina is having an alien's baby. LOL. We have more news sources than ever before and that's what scares a lot of folks. The monopoly is over and that has some people calling for censorship.
I like Apple News for its convenience, but I recognize the bias in the top stories they select each day. I appreciate that with a simple swipe to the right I can block any channels that I think are bias. CNN, we are looking at you buddy.
How is this different except news is gathered automatically so more reliance on reliability of source is needed.
Just because you don't like it doesn't make it "fake news." People need to stop confirming their own biases with fake news that suit their beliefs.
I am so fed up with people subscribing and liking fake news on both sides.
A list of fake news sites:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10eA5-mCZLSS4MQY5QGb5ewC3VAL6pLkT53V_81ZyitM/preview
False.
Fact checking is is just that.
Someymes people misspeak. Sometimes they purposely distort. Fact checkers by is welcome by anyone who cares about the truth.
Censorshipboscrryingbto to suppress it by calling it dangerous.
That's the difference.
Toure welcome.
If snythng the the liberal media has been the most guilty of errata.
Yet they hey try to spin it against those who are merely stating facts.
Freedom of speech in all forms is a liberty that must not be suppressed. As soon as it is, you're at the mercy of one approved source telling you what to believe and how to think and feel.
That is dangerous. That's North Korea, china, Russia, and most Islamic nations.
No thanks.
Those trying to control prople via via their narrative are the ones who are trying to spin the fake news thing as though it's new. And as though they're not the guilty party.
The American people are sick and tired of manipulation, being politically correct for the sake of peer pressure, and being fed narratives by which to view the world.
Just the facts. And let people choose how to think. That's what's needed.
Be normal human beings. Stop getting irate that others don't share your opinion.
Respect the opinion of others - like moms have been trying to teach their kids for centuries...
LOL
Post of the morning.