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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Alex Hern

TikTok algorithm directs users to fake news about Ukraine war, study says

TikTok Ukraine United States NewsGuard
Tiktok used on a phone
‘Some of the myths in the videos TikTok’s algorithm fed to analysts have previously been identified as Kremlin propaganda,’ the researchers said. Photograph: Kiichiro Sato/AP

A new TikTok account can be shown falsehoods about the Ukraine war within minutes of signing up to the app, according to an investigation by anti-misinformation outlet NewsGuard.

The company, which monitors the trustworthiness of news outlets across the web, ran a pair of tests to assess how the video-sharing app treated information about the conflict. It found that a new account that did nothing but scroll the app’s algorithmically curated For You Page watching videos about the war would be funnelled towards false or misleading content within 40 minutes.

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