(Credit: Snopes)
Snopes is no longer fact checking for Facebook. In a Feb. 1 note from Vinny Green and David Mikkelson on its website, Snopes said it will not “renew our partnership with Facebook.”
“At this time we are evaluating the ramifications and costs of providing third-party fact-checking services, and we want to determine with certainty that our efforts to aid any particular platform are a net positive for our online community, publication, and staff,” Snopes wrote.
Snopes noted it did receive money for working with Facebook and that the partnership lasted two years. Snopes’ financial disclosure page states that in 2017, Facebook paid it $100,000; Snopes’ 2018 disclosures aren’t available yet.
A Facebook spokesperson provided iMediaEthics with the following statement about Snopes’ decision:
“We value the work that Snopes has done, and respect their decision as an independent business. Fighting misinformation takes a multi-pronged approach from across the industry. We are committed to fighting this through many tactics, and the work that third-party fact-checkers do is a valued and important piece of this effort. We have strong relationships with 39 fact-checking partners around the world who fact-check content in 20 languages, and we plan to expand the program this year by adding new partners and languages. “
Facebook pointed to its list here of current fact-checking partners.
Hat Tip: Megan Duncan
