WeChat chief raises alarm over fake news in wake of Trump win
Tencent boss Pony Ma underlines need to regulate content on social media but another industry executive warns the authorities against excessive reactions to public opinion
The influence of fake news stories online during the US presidential election rang alarm bells and highlighted the need to crack down on the content’s spread, the head of one of the world’s biggest internet companies said on Friday.
But another Chinese industry executive cautioned regulators against resorting to extremes to tackle the issue.
Fake news spreading in US social media, which played a part in Trump’s victory, has sent an alarm to the international community
US social media companies have come under attack for allowing fake news stories to circulate on their platforms, allegedly helping Donald Trump win the US presidential race.
Addressing the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, Pony Ma Huateng, chairman and chief executive of Tencent Holdings, said the controversy highlighted the need to seriously tackle the distribution of fake news online.
“Fake news spreading in US social media, which played a part in Trump’s victory, has sent an alarm to the international community,” Ma said.
“Tencent has always been strict in cracking down on fake news and we see it as very necessary.”