Fake news blocker in PH now available for Chrome users
With how much the Philippines has gone head over heels for anything branded as “fake news,” two journalism groups decided to take up action and launched a fake news blocker extension for Google Chrome.
IMAGE Pexels
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) launched on June 5 a fake news blocker called Fakeblok. It’s a Google Chrome plug-in that blocks articles from fake news sites on your Facebook newsfeed.
IMAGE Chrome Web Store
The plug-in also allows users to submit sites that they think shares fake news. These websites will then be reviewed and vetted by an independent group of journalists to see if they do indeed share fake news.
If they confirm that these sites carry fake news, it gets added to their list and any articles shared on your newsfeed that comes from these websites will be blocked. CMFR has already come out with a list, which can be seen on their website, cmfr-phil.org.
https://www.facebook.com/229482870373/photos/a.10151325930050374.815044.229482870373/10158862656565374/?type=3&theater
NO MORE FAKE NEWS. The NUJP will do its best to monitor and block fake news sites from your feed, but they need our help.
“Over the past months, unverified posts on social media have been intentionally spreading misinformation. Even state-run news agencies have come up with, shared, and legitimized fake news,” NUJP said in a statement.
There are already requests for a similar plug-in to be developed by the NUJP and CMFR on other desktop browsers like Firefox and an app for mobile users.
If you’re interested in knowing more about Fakeblok, you can visit fakeblok.com. If you want to use the plug-in, simply go to the Chrome Web Store (chrome.google.com/webstore) and search for Fakeblok.
Sources: Rappler, CNN Philippines, Inquirer.net
