Meta is set to introduce a labeling system for government-affiliated media accounts on its new Instagram-connected app, Threads.
Reuters reports that this disclosure was made by Josh Machin, Meta's head of public policy for Australia, during an inquiry on foreign interference.
The move comes in the wake of Meta's recent launch of Threads, which has drawn comparisons to Twitter.
Threads to Label State-Affiliated Media Accounts
The decision to label state-affiliated media accounts on Threads aims to increase transparency and inform users about the sources of information they encounter on the platform.
Machin stated, "Areas such as labels for state-affiliated media and fact-checking are all areas where we see a lot of value, and it's our aspiration to build that out expeditiously."
Interestingly, Musk-owned Twitter has already removed tags from government-affiliated accounts since implementing a new paid verification system.
A Closer Look
During the inquiry, Reuters reports that Machin was asked if state-affiliated broadcasters such as RT from Russia and Xinhua News Agency from China would be tagged accordingly on Threads.
He responded, "That's our aspiration." Machin emphasized that any state-affiliated media violating Meta's policies would be removed from the platform. He also highlighted that Meta's top priorities include expanding the functionality of tags to ensure a comprehensive labeling system.
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Notably, Meta's existing platforms, Facebook and Instagram, already feature tags on accounts linked to RT and Xinhua, indicating that they are state-controlled media entities from Russia and China, respectively.
However, at the time of Reuters' investigation, RT's Threads account lacked the label, while Xinhua did not appear to have a Threads account.
Lawmakers Expressed Concerns
Reuters also reported that Australian senator James Paterson expressed concern over Twitter's removal of foreign government affiliation tags, emphasizing the importance of transparency.
Paterson's concerns reflect the need for social media platforms to provide clear information about the sources of media content, especially when they have government affiliations.
In addition to labeling government-affiliated media accounts, Meta's Machin also addressed concerns regarding the Australian proposal to grant the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) powers to regulate and penalize social media companies for spreading disinformation and misinformation.
While Meta supports giving the ACMA the power to enforce an existing industry code of conduct, Machin expressed concerns about the draft legislation, which he believes goes further and could potentially be abused, resulting in a chilling effect on free expression online.
No Hard News and Politics for Threads?
Threads, as a new platform, aims to provide a distinct user experience, as indicated by recent statements from Adam Mosseri, the chief of Instagram.
As Forbes reports, Mosseri stated that Threads would not encourage "politics and hard news" due to the potential risks and negative consequences associated with such content.
However, the platform has already faced criticism from right-wing commentators and politicians, who accuse it of censoring conservatives. Several right-wing figures, including Donald Trump Jr., encountered warnings stating that their accounts had "repeatedly posted false information" when attempting to join Threads.
Meta later acknowledged that these warnings resulted from an error, which has since been rectified.
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