Apple CEO Tim Cook is advocating for a massive campaign to combat the “fake news” stories that are spreading on the internet.
During a rare interview with The Daily Telegraph, Cook emphasized the importance of thinking through every demographic and developing tools to reduce the spread of fake news.
Cook’s comments were more direct compared to other tech CEOs, like Mark Zuckerberg, who have previously discussed the issue.
Cook expressed concern that made-up stories and hoaxes are negatively impacting people’s thoughts and referred to the fake news epidemic as a significant problem worldwide.
Originally, the term “fake news” was used to describe deceptive online articles. These stories are often shared on social networking sites, such as Facebook, for monetary gain or for political propaganda.
In the context of the American election, fictional stories such as “Pope Francis shocks world, endorses Donald Trump for president” garnered millions of clicks.
Differentiating between legitimate news sources and fake news can be challenging for internet users.
Cook believes companies like Apple can play a crucial role in addressing this issue.
During the interview, Cook suggested the need for a modern version of a public-service announcement campaign and emphasized the importance of media literacy education for the digital age.
Although some schools have started incorporating media literacy programs, it is not yet universally adopted.
When asked about funding a public-service announcement campaign, an Apple spokesperson declined to comment.
Cook also discussed the potential for tech companies to help identify and remove fake stories, while still respecting freedom of speech and the press.
Apple’s Apple News app has gained a reputation for providing reliable news, as the company carefully reviews publishers who join the platform and offers a “report-a-concern” function for users to flag fake news or hate speech.
Facebook has also taken steps to address fake news by working with fact-checkers and testing “warning labels” for misleading stories.
Cook expressed optimism that the fake news problem will be short-term, as he believes people do not want it in the long run.
CNNMoney (New York) First published February 11, 2017: 8:00 PM ET
