Exclusive: Facebook opens up about false news

PLUS: A stealthy malware attack on routers, chatbots that schedule your meetings, and the free speech implications of Trump not being able to block critics on Twitter. [View this email in your browser]( [logo]( [[WIRED Magazine]5.24.18]( Facebook has a false news problem, and it knows it. For years, the social network's News Feed was almost totally opaque; Facebook revealed little about the algorithms that powered it and [fired employees]( who spoke publicly about it. But now, Mark Zuckerberg is [testifying before Congress]( and the [European Parliament]( and Facebook is [flooding the airwaves]( with mea culpa ad spots. Yesterday, Facebook announced three major initiatives on false news and WIRED editor-in-chief [Nicholas Thompson]( got [an exclusive early look]( at them. He also had [a sit-down conversation]( with eight News Feed product managers and engineers. Those announcements include a request for proposals from academics who want to study false news on Facebook; a new public education campaign to teach users how to spot false news and prevent it from spreading; and the release of a nearly 12-minute video called “Facing Facts,” which emphasizes that Facebook is really, really concerned about false news. "The question for Facebook, though, is no longer whether it cares," Thompson writes. "The question is whether the problem can be solved. News Feed has been tuned, for years, to maximize our attention and in many ways our outrage. The same features that incentivized publishers to create clickbait are the ones that let false news fly. News Feed has been nourishing the sugar plantations for a decade. Can it really help grow kale, or even apples?" Also: A [stealthy malware attack]( infecting half a million routers, chatbots that try to schedule your meetings [without annoying you]( and the free speech implications of Trump [not being able to block critics on Twitter](. Security Stealthy, Destructive Malware Infects Half a Million Routers By Andy Greenberg Cisco researchers discover a new router malware outbreak that might also be the next cyberwar attack in Ukraine. Free Speech Trump Can't Block Twitter Critics. What’s That Mean For You? By Issie Lapowsky and Louise Matsakis Here's how the decision impacts the future of the First Amendment online. The Business Issue AI Chatbots Try to Schedule Meetings—Without Enraging Us By John H. Richardson However trivial it may sound, it's a monstrously difficult challenge. Luckily, the employees of X.ai are some of the most dedicated nerds you’ll ever meet. Clean Up Exclusive: Facebook Opens Up About False News By Nicholas Thompson In a rare interview, nine Facebook executives talk about the challenge, and their progress, in battling clickbait and falsehoods. [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [Ad Choices]( [WIRED Magazine Subscription] Get Wired Get unlimited access to an ad-free WIRED.com + a free YubiKey. Start your free trial now. Going Dark ‘Significant’ FBI Error Reignites Data Encryption Debate By Lily Hay Newman FBI stats about inaccessible cell phones were inflated, undermining already controversial bureau claims about the threat of encryption. GDPR Europe's New Data Protections Will Affect You Too. Here's How By Arielle Pardes Yes, they mainly affect those who live inside the EU. But non-Europeans should pay attention too. Robo Rules California's Heavy-Handed Plan to Regulate the Robocar Biz By Aarian Marshall Self-driving industry reps are not happy with the Public Utilities Commission's proposed plan for how driverless taxis should operate—especially the requirements that they offer services for free and ban pooled rides. Fetish Sony's 4K Projector Offers More Than Meets the Eye By Jeffrey Van Camp The coffee-table-sized Sony LSPX-A1 conceals a powerful speaker system—plus provides ample storage for your art books. Come Here Often? Tinder Wants to Match You With People Who Go to the Same Places By Louise Matsakis The dating app is testing a new feature aimed at connecting users who hang out at the same spots. [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [AdChoices]( [WIRED Magazine]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, [wired@newsletters.wired.com]( to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( Copyright © Condé Nast 2018. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved. mat