Google tweak aims to curb fake, misleading search results: HumSub.TV
Google tweak aims to curb fake, misleading search results: HumSub.TV: Google on Tuesday announced changes to how it delivers and ranks internet searches, the latest effort by the tech giant to weed out “fake news” and offensive content.
The new initiative includes tweaks to the algorithm used by Google to deliver search results, while offering users more options to flag inappropriate content, including for “auto complete,” or the suggestions Google makes while someone is typing a search query.
“Our algorithms help identify reliable sources from the hundreds of billions of pages in our index,” Google vice president of engineering Ben Gomes said in a blog post.
“However, it’s become very apparent that a small set of queries in our daily traffic (around 0.25 per cent), have been returning offensive or clearly misleading content, which is not what people are looking for.”
Gomes said that Google is seeking to crack down on “new ways that people try to game the system.”
“The most high profile of these issues is the phenomenon of ‘fake news,’ where content on the web has contributed to the spread of blatantly misleading, low quality, offensive or downright false information,” he wrote.
“While this problem is different from issues in the past, our goal remains the same — to provide people with access to relevant information from the most reliable sources available.”
Both Google and Facebook have taken steps in recent months to curb the spread of hoaxes and misinformation amid concerns these may have influenced voters in the 2016 US election.
Both firms have sought to cut off ad revenues to websites that promote false news, but have acknowledged they need to do more.
Gomes said the latest effort is part of an ongoing process and includes “real people who assess the quality of Google’s search results” and provide feedback.
The tweak in search ranking aims “to help surface more authoritative pages and demote low-quality content,” he added.
Gomes said the effort aims to avert incidents that gained notoriety last year such as the high ranking of a website which claimed the Holocaust did not happen.
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Additionally, Google will make it easier for users to flag inappropriate “autocomplete” suggestions and “snippets” of website after some past embarrassments.
“The content that appears in these features is generated algorithmically and is a reflection of what people are searching for and what’s available on the web,” Gomes said.
“This can sometimes lead to results that are unexpected, inaccurate or offensive”
Gomes said the new system enables users to “inform us directly if you find sensitive or unhelpful content.”
“We plan to use this feedback to help improve our algorithms,” he added.
About HumSub TV
Introduction
HumSub TV is Pakistan’s leading forwarding-thinking, edutainment channel, aimed at promoting and upholding peace, interfaith harmony and social responsibility within Pakistan through informative and insightful programmes and documentaries; analytical interviews on issues pertaining to social, economic, legal and environmental set-up; dedicated shows to canvass and thereby promote the culture and heritage of Pakistan and in-depth coverage of national and international news.
HumSub TV is the first channel and thus a pioneer within its own right that mainly focuses on emphasising the “Rights” as well as the “Obligations” of the citizens in light of the Constitution of Pakistan, numerous International declarations signed by the Government and various laws that have been promulgated over the years but are not in the knowledge of the common citizen.
HumSub TV also aims to enter into bilateral agreements with other countries to promote not only their culture, heritage and tourism, but also their educational and medical facilities.
Following the successful launch of HumSub TV’s head office in Blue Area, Islamabad; the bureau office has been set up in Lahore.
Vision
To project positive image building of Pakistan and inculcate nationalism, as per the vision of the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Mission
HumSub TV is resolute about the promotion of a pluralistic, inclusive and egalitarian society in Pakistan where all citizens are allowed to contribute to promote interfaith harmony, peace and collective wisdom in the social, political and economic development of Pakistan and to encourage critical and lateral thinking in the society. HumSub TV strives to make a positive contribution to this end.
HumSub TV’s Theme
HumSub TV, Pakistan’s first EDUTAINMENT Channel, has been set up for not only those audience residing in Pakistan or overseas but the international community on the whole. The vision of the channel is to project positive image building of Pakistan and inculcate nationalism as per the vision of the founder of the nation.
HumSub TV strives to make a positive contribution to this end by promoting pluralism, inclusiveness and egality in Pakistan and give voice to the suppressed. It endeavors to act as a positive catalyst for social change and Pakistani nationalism. It envisions providing a platform for airing critical and lateral thinking and collective wisdom by inviting positive minded intellectuals and opinion forming individuals for the promotion of interfaith harmony and peace in the social, political and economic development of Pakistan.
Whereas the channel airs upbeat edutainment programmes, it, nonetheless, has the primary objective of countering negative anti-Pakistan regional and international propaganda as well as advancing fundamental rights as encapsulated in the Constitution of Pakistan.
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