Facebook to label content from state-run media

Facebook announced plans Monday to identify content from state-controlled media sources posted on its platform.

“Next month, we’ll begin labeling media outlets that are wholly or partially under the editorial control of their government as state-controlled media,” the social media giant said in a blog post. 

{mosads}Faceook’s definition of state-controlled media was developed in collaboration with experts and organizations in the fields of media, governance, human rights and development. 

The company says it will make the determinations based on the funding and structure of media companies, as well as open-source reporting about them.

“In the U.S. we have the benefit of a free press,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said to reporters in a call Monday. “And because of that, we think it’s especially important to call when media coming from any country around the world is acting as an organ of the government and not the free press.”

The policy change is likely to affect outlets like Russia Today, which was reportedly used by the Kremlin as part of its efforts to influence the 2016 election.

Facebook clarified that public media, which they define as any “entity that is publicly financed, retains a public service mission and can demonstrate its independent editorial control,” will not be labeled in the same way.

The new policy comes amid a raft of changes aimed at improving election security and combatting disinformation.