Facebook users rarely saw voting misinformation labeled false, says study especially if it came from Trump

Facebook addressed false election information with understated warnings like “missing context” rather than more direct flags, research from The Markup suggests — and the company appeared hesitant to label false or misleading statements from now-banned former President Donald Trump.

The Markup has released new data from its Citizen Browser, which captures snapshots of what 2,200 volunteers see in their Facebook feeds. Its report covers December and January, two contentious months where then-President Trump falsely claimed victory in the election. Facebook implemented special banners and labeling systems to inform users about election results and fact-check false posts. The Citizen Browser Project offers a window into a seemingly...

Continue reading…