SAN FRANCISCO — A Chrome browser extension that puts warning labels on fake news articles in Facebook News Feed was mistaken for Facebook running a test to root out misinformation on the giant social network.
TechCrunch reported Thursday that a source had sent the publication a screenshot of a warning label from that person's News Feed that read: "This website is not a reliable news source. Reason: Classification Pending."
A Facebook spokesman identified the source of the screenshot as a Chrome browser extension.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg last month outlined steps Facebook would take to fight misinformaton including labeling certain articles as false, working with fact-checking groups, making it easier for users to report fake stories and building technology to classify misinformation.
Zuckerberg has disputed claims that fake news swayed public opinion in the U.S. presidential election.
