Russia ‘planting fake news on Wikipedia’, senior MPs believe
Commons committee to investigate cyborgs creating 'treasure hunt' trails of deliberate misinformation
RUSSIAN trolls are planting “fake news” on Wikipedia to boost the false information they spread online, senior MPs believe.
As part of its inquiry into the scourge, the influential Commons Culture Committee is investigating how cyborgs create “treasure hunt” trails of deliberate misinformation across the internet.
Cyborgs – a human who uses bot technology – have been accused of posting on the online encyclopaedia then spreading the same untruths across the web.
While the public believe they’re using the site to check facts, they’re being fed false information, backed up with links.
Last night a source close to the inquiry said: “It seems not enough checks are being done by Wikipedia to make sure the content on there is not fake.”
Members of the committee will also fly out to Washington DC next month as part of their inquiry into fake news.
Senior Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter bosses are expected to be hauled before them to give evidence in the British embassy which will be live streamed back to the UK.
It will be the first time a select committee has held a session abroad.
The executives will be questioned on mover to combat the spread of fake news on their platforms.
Last night committee chair and Tory MP Damian Collins, said: “We want to know what they can do to identify and act against sources of fake news on the platforms.
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“My concern is they are not doing enough to analyse what is going on on their own platforms.
“The reason we think this is because they've said unless you find evidence we won't give it you.”
The social media giants have until next week to provide the committee with comprehensive information detailing the true extent of Russian meddling.
Facebook, Twitter and Google have been under pressure to reveal the extent of foreign interference in British politics including the EU referendum.
It is understood the committee believes they are yet to provide a full account of the fake news being spread on their platforms.
Last night a spokesman for Wikipedia insisted their “open, transparent model” is “uniquely resistant to misinformation”.
She said: “Anyone can edit Wikipedia, to fix mistakes or expand articles, provided their contributions are neutral and based in reliable sources.
"Thousands of people do just this on Wikipedia every day. Nearly every edit ever made to Wikipedia is available to the public, so anyone can see how an article has changed over time.”