Facebook, Twitter launch crackdown on climate misinformation

Facebook and Twitter have launched programs to crack down on climate change misinformation as world leaders gather to find a way to save the planet.

Climate change caused overwhelmingly by human activity is the primary source of the unprecedented forest fires regularly ravaging the western United States, according to a study published November 1, 2021. AFP

Facebook is the latest tech giant to turn green with the social media goliath cracking down on climate change misinformation.

The move coincides with the UN climate summit and Facebook, now known as Meta, has developed a Climate science Information Center and deployed more fact checkers to cut down on climate misinformation.

“Social media companies have the power to connect people with each other to make a difference at scale, amplify marginalised voices, and share powerful information. We want to play our part by helping people find accurate, science-led information, while also tackling misinformation,” Facebook vice president Nick Clegg wrote in a blog post.

Facebook's vice president Nick Clegg. Picture: AFP.

The misinformation side of the campaign will work similarly to the scheme the social media company used to prevent Covid misinformation. It uses a feature that detects certain keywords and makes it easier for fact checkers to find information more easily.

Twitter revealed details of a similar scheme for their platform on Monday.

Their version includes a program that is aimed to ‘pre-bunk’ climate misinformation and get ahead of false narratives.

Climate change caused overwhelmingly by human activity is the primary source of the unprecedented forest fires regularly ravaging the western United States, according to a study published November 1, 2021. AFP

The method involves publishing accurate information about climate change, with details on the topic from experts.

It will sit in the various ‘explore’ tabs on the platform as well as the trends list. The ‘pre-bunks’ will be available in Arabic, English, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.

Last year, Facebook reached net zero emissions for its global operations, which are 100% supported by renewable energy. The social media goliath is now focusing on reaching net zero across its value chain and becoming water positive by 2030.

Apple also announced this year that 175 of its manufacturing partners are committing to using renewable energy.

Originally published as Facebook, Twitter launch crackdown on climate misinformation