Facebook Expands Fight Against Fake News

Facebook says it's introducing measures to tackle the spread of fake news in Germany, months before the country holds a national election. The social network said Sunday the investigative media group Correctiv will be its first outside fact-checker in Germany, and it's working to bring aboard other media organizations, the AP reports. It said updates to make it easier to report fake news will be introduced shortly in Germany, which is expected to hold a national election in September. With the updates, users will be able to select "It's a fake news story" as an option when reporting a Facebook post.

Facebook last month launched plans to focus on the "worst of the worst" offenders and partner with outside fact-checkers and news organizations to sort out true news reports from made-up stories. This is the first major expansion of the system since tests began in the US, reports the BBC. Facebook says it's looking into expanding the program to other countries in the near future. Facebook has also faced criticism in Germany for what critics call an insufficient response to hate speech. (A Syrian refugee in Germany says fake news has made his life a misery.)