Filtering false news

IN Media Watch Briefs | 14/09/2016

Facebook and Twitter have joined a group of media and technology firms wanting to filter out false news and online misinformation, reports Hindustan Times. First Draft News, which is backed by Google, announced on Tuesday that 20 news organisations, including The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, AFP and so on, will be part of a network that will work to promote best practices for journalism in the digital age. The announcement comes at a time when there is growing concern over the way social networking sites like Facebook filter and deliver news, often allowing misinformation and hoaxes to go through.

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Amazon resisting voluntary censorship

The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.

Let the games begin

Clearly, the run to the 2019 elections is on. A journalist received a call from someone saying they were from Aajtak channel and were conducting a survey, asking whom she was going to vote for in 2019. On being told that her vote was secret, the caller assumed she wasn't going to vote for 'Modiji'. The caller, a woman, also didn't identify herself. A month or two earlier the same journalist received a call, this time from a man, asking if she was going to vote for the BSP.