Making social media safe for democracy

In the run-up to multiple votes around the world in 2016, including the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote and the United States presidential election, social media companies like Facebook and Twitter systematically served large numbers of voters poor-quality information — indeed, often outright lies — about politics and public policy.

In the run-up to multiple votes around the world in 2016, including the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote and the United States presidential election, social media companies like Facebook and Twitter systematically served large numbers of voters poor-quality information — indeed, often outright lies — about politics and public policy.

Though those companies have been widely criticised, the junk news — sensational stories, conspiracy theories, and other disinformation — flowed on through 2017.