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Google adds search results ‘fact check’ flag

CALIFORNIA: Google has added its fact check feature to search results globally, in a bid to help tackle the spread of “fake news”, the company said on Friday.

The search giant will now highlight “authoritative sources” in search results, with a summary of claims that have been fact-checked.

“With the new feature, sites will be judged authoritative by an algorithm and the company will not be fact-checking news stories itself.”

The feature was introduced by in October, however, Google has now added it to its regular search results.

“A summary of the fact-checked statements and whether they are judged to be true or false will also appear,” the company said and further elaborated that publishers who have investigated a claim, for example, a politician’s statements, will be displayed more prominently.

However, the feature will not affect the order of search results and will not label sites known to spread false information as untrustworthy, it added.

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.