WeChat launches new feature aimed at fighting fake news
With the growing concern of fake news being spread over the internet, China’s popular social media app WeChat has just launched a new feature that warns users if a news item circulating on one of its accounts is false. The feature will only notify users if the news is determined to be fake by Chinese censors, police or official media outlets. It’s one of the mini-features launched this year that functions within its platform.
Wechat has over 900 million active users, and is used in China for messaging, mobile payments, ordering food, and even renting bicycles. Users of the service will also be notified now if news sent to their friends is later found to be false.
This week the Chinese Cyberspace Administration shut down some social media accounts that were known for celebrity gossip & news, and not for controversial political content. The Cyberspace Administration indicated that the reason for the censorship was to “proactively promote socialist core values.” China established this new agency due to a new cybersecurity law that went into effect on June 1.
News Sources:
Looks like something for the Chinese government to control, but in spirit it is nice.
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