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1. Yesterday, Breitbart published a completely false article to suggest that masks are ineffective
Facebook has a policy against COVID-19 misinfo that could create imminent harm
Breitbart's article is dangerous
But Facebook is giving them a pass
Again https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
Facebook has a policy against COVID-19 misinfo that could create imminent harm
Breitbart's article is dangerous
But Facebook is giving them a pass
Again https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
2. The Breitbart article claimed that Senator Thom Tillis contracted COVID-19 at a White House event even though he was wearing a mask
If this were true the story would be silly. But it was a lie
Tillis was photographed indoors at the event w/o a mask
https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
If this were true the story would be silly. But it was a lie
Tillis was photographed indoors at the event w/o a mask
https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
3. Breitbart uses this lie to falsely suggest that there is a "lack of consensus on the controversial subject" of mask-wearing. This is another dangerous lie.
But Facebook said the article DID NOT VIOLATE ITS COVID-19 MISINFORMATION POLICY.
Some policy https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
But Facebook said the article DID NOT VIOLATE ITS COVID-19 MISINFORMATION POLICY.
Some policy https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
4. Popular Information sent the article to @LeadStoriesCom, one of Facebook's fact-checking partners. Lead Stories reviewed the article, and ruled that it was inaccurate.
This is where things get interesting
https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
This is where things get interesting
https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
5. In July, Breitbart published a Facebook video claiming hydroxychlorquine was a "cure" for COVID. Facebook staff asked Zuckerberg how Breitbart could still be part of Facebook News. Zuckerberg said a publisher is removed if it gets 2 strikes in 90 days https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
6. But Facebook now says this second negative fact check is not a "strike," in part because Breitbart deleted their Facebook post after the fact-check was published.
But before the deletion, the post was shared almost 3K times
https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
But before the deletion, the post was shared almost 3K times
https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
7. If this is indeed the policy, it is disfunctional. Facebook considers a publication "trustworthy" if it repeatedly publishes obviously false information and then, after getting called out, deletes it. https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
8. Facebook has a lot of policies that sound very reasonable. But the enforcement is often lacking.
For more accountability journalism that holds powerful corporations accountable, sign up for my newsletter --> http://popular.info/subscribe
For more accountability journalism that holds powerful corporations accountable, sign up for my newsletter --> http://popular.info/subscribe
9. CODA: Breitbart is the 8th most successful publisher on all of Facebook. In August it had more engagement than the NYT!
https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
https://popular.info/p/facebook-gives-breitbart-a-pass-for
