WeChat has blocked 500 million postings in fight against fake news
In a world where false and misleading information can reach billions instantly and online manipulation is becoming ever more sophisticated, governments are increasingly turning to legislation to combat fake news, putting pressure on social media platforms around the world to monitor posts by their users more rigorously.
PUBLISHED : Monday, 07 May, 2018, 8:03am
UPDATED : Monday, 07 May, 2018, 8:03am
Related topics
WeChat, China’s biggest social media network with around one billion users, has so far blocked about 500 million postings in its fight against fake news, according to a report by a government body.
Apart from blocking the posts directly, Tencent’s WeChat is working with hundreds of third-party organisations in an effort to block postings and quash “rumours” as part of its overall effort to “safeguard cybersecurity”, according to a report released on Friday by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, an institute run by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
WeChat has built a mini-programme into its social messaging application dedicated to refuting “rumours”, including postings on topics such as the disappearance of Malaysia Airline Flight 370 in 2014 and various other topics, such as “cures” for cancer. By the end of 2017, the programme has quashed “rumours” for over 19.7 million users and around 37 million alerts were sent out.
Investors asked Jinri Toutiao about lowbrow content before crackdown
In a world where false and misleading information can reach billions instantly and online manipulation is becoming ever more sophisticated, governments are increasingly turning to legislation to combat fake news, putting pressure on social media platforms around the world to monitor posts by their users more rigorously. That has led companies like Facebook and Jinri Toutiao to step up the hiring of human moderators to sieve through online content.
The government report said that WeChat needs to do more to improve its data protection policies, citing a survey in which 53 per cent of respondents believed WeChat’s operations presented a risk of data leaks, with only a mediocre level of protection of personal data and privacy.
Chinese live-streaming app deletes teenage mum videos after state media criticism
WeChat has received public criticism of its data privacy capabilities in the past. WeChat reiterated earlier this week that its app does not store the chat histories of users or use it for big data analysis after an anti-graft agency in eastern China’s Anhui province restored the deleted chat history of an individual it was investigating. WeChat said it did not store any user chat histories in January this year after Li Shufu, chairman of Chinese carmaker Geely, reportedly slammed the company for invading user privacy.
The government report also mentioned WeChat’s efforts to work with police against cyber fraud and criminal activity, with WeChat cited as assisting in over 3,800 arrests related to illegally obtaining personal information.
Most Popular
Viewed
- 1
![Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group, waves to the audience during the closing ceremony for the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: AP]( "Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group, waves to the audience during the closing ceremony for the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: AP")
- 2
![Ma’s planned stepping down in his 50s is a rare case in the Chinese business world, where tycoons often remain in control well into old age.]( "Ma’s planned stepping down in his 50s is a rare case in the Chinese business world, where tycoons often remain in control well into old age.")
- 3
![Chinese smartphone brands have chipped away at Apple’s market share in China by introducing feature-laden models, but are striving to convince consumers to shell out top dollar and enshrine their brands with the same premium cachet reserved for the iPhone]( "Chinese smartphone brands have chipped away at Apple’s market share in China by introducing feature-laden models, but are striving to convince consumers to shell out top dollar and enshrine their brands with the same premium cachet reserved for the iPhone")
- 4
![CEO Charles Hung Tak-chow, pictured, says that by turning from a traditional into a digital insurer, customers will benefit from lower policy prices. Photo: K. Y. Cheng.]( "CEO Charles Hung Tak-chow, pictured, says that by turning from a traditional into a digital insurer, customers will benefit from lower policy prices. Photo: K. Y. Cheng.")
- 5
![Senior executives of the Alibaba Partnership at a philanthropy event on September 10, 2018, including group Secretary-General Shao Xiaofeng (first left), Wholesale Marketplace President Trudy Dai (second left), Executive Chairman Jack Ma (centre), Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang (second right), Chief People Officer Judy Tong (first right). Photo: SCMP/Alibaba Handout]( "Senior executives of the Alibaba Partnership at a philanthropy event on September 10, 2018, including group Secretary-General Shao Xiaofeng (first left), Wholesale Marketplace President Trudy Dai (second left), Executive Chairman Jack Ma (centre), Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang (second right), Chief People Officer Judy Tong (first right). Photo: SCMP/Alibaba Handout")
Shared
- 1
![Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group, waves to the audience during the closing ceremony for the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: AP]( "Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group, waves to the audience during the closing ceremony for the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: AP")
- 2
![Ma’s planned stepping down in his 50s is a rare case in the Chinese business world, where tycoons often remain in control well into old age.]( "Ma’s planned stepping down in his 50s is a rare case in the Chinese business world, where tycoons often remain in control well into old age.")
- 3
![CEO Charles Hung Tak-chow, pictured, says that by turning from a traditional into a digital insurer, customers will benefit from lower policy prices. Photo: K. Y. Cheng.]( "CEO Charles Hung Tak-chow, pictured, says that by turning from a traditional into a digital insurer, customers will benefit from lower policy prices. Photo: K. Y. Cheng.")
- 4
![Chinese smartphone brands have chipped away at Apple’s market share in China by introducing feature-laden models, but are striving to convince consumers to shell out top dollar and enshrine their brands with the same premium cachet reserved for the iPhone]( "Chinese smartphone brands have chipped away at Apple’s market share in China by introducing feature-laden models, but are striving to convince consumers to shell out top dollar and enshrine their brands with the same premium cachet reserved for the iPhone")
- 5
![Ma, the co-founder of Asia’s most valuable company and one of China’s most recognisable names, will remain Alibaba’s executive chairman for 12 months until September 10, 2019]( "Ma, the co-founder of Asia’s most valuable company and one of China’s most recognisable names, will remain Alibaba’s executive chairman for 12 months until September 10, 2019")
Commented
- 1
![After one of the most powerful storms on record to hit the city, suspensions and delays mean confusion and long waits for residents]( "After one of the most powerful storms on record to hit the city, suspensions and delays mean confusion and long waits for residents")
- 2
![China’s ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou wants a meeting with local authorities to discuss the alleged mistreatment of the Chinese tourists. Photo: Handout]( "China’s ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou wants a meeting with local authorities to discuss the alleged mistreatment of the Chinese tourists. Photo: Handout")
- 3
![If the US does go ahead with tariffs on US$200 billion of Chinese goods, they will be the biggest round since the first batch on Chinese exports in July. Photo: Reuters]( "If the US does go ahead with tariffs on US$200 billion of Chinese goods, they will be the biggest round since the first batch on Chinese exports in July. Photo: Reuters")
- 4
![The Japanese submarine Kuroshio took part in military exercises in the South China Sea. Photo: Handout]( "The Japanese submarine Kuroshio took part in military exercises in the South China Sea. Photo: Handout")
- 5
![Taiwan has been trying for readmission to the United Nations since 1993 but has recently changed tactics with the launch of a charm offensive by officials and a letter-writing campaign to the world’s media. Photo: AFP]( "Taiwan has been trying for readmission to the United Nations since 1993 but has recently changed tactics with the launch of a charm offensive by officials and a letter-writing campaign to the world’s media. Photo: AFP")
You may also like
A matter of life and death: puppet masters to reveal dark side
In partnership with: Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Comments: