Facebook to Stop News Headline Changes From Advertisers

Facebook confirmed the internal effort in the face of concerns over a BBC headline altered in an ad.

Advertisement
By Agence France-Presse | Updated: 17 September 2019 12:46 IST

Facebook said Monday it is working to stop advertisers from changing headlines in links to news stories after concerns raised by a British political party's altering of one such link.

The leading social network confirmed the internal effort in the face of concerns over a BBC headline altered in an ad to evidently change the tone of an article about British government spending on education.

Advertisement

"We are working to put safeguards in place by the end of the year to ensure publishers have control over the way their headlines appear in advertisements," Facebook said in response to an AFP inquiry.

The new policy came over complaints that advertisers might be able to deceptively modify the content in news stories shared on the huge social network.

Advertisement

A recent Conservative Party Facebook ad "seems to have altered the headline of a BBC News article on an education spending announcement to make the government appear more generous than it is being," British fact-checking charity organisation Full Fact said in an online post.

The fact-check group said the altered headline was  "misleading" by making the funding "seem comparatively much larger than it really is."

Advertisement

Facebook and other Internet firms have been under pressure to prevent their online platforms from being used to for deception or social manipulation, particularly regarding political issues.

Ads that appear crafted to deceive are typically removed from Facebook, but remain for as long as seven years in the social network's ad library.

Advertisement

The move comes with Facebook acting on several fronts to curb efforts to manipulate content and opinion on political issues.

Stealth campaigns linked to Russia that used online social networks and other platforms were tailored to sway voters ahead of the 2016 presidential election that put Donald Trump in the White House.

The social network last month tightened rules for political ad spending in US elections, notably by requiring more information about who is paying for campaign messages.

 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: Facebook
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Triple Solar Flare Eruption Sparks G3 Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Earth
  2. Xiaomi 17T Launches in India With Leica-Tuned Triple Rear Cameras
  3. Xiaomi TV FX Mini LED Series With Up to 75-Inch Screen Launched in India
  4. Future James Bond Games Will be Published by Amazon Games
  1. Sun Unleashes Triple Solar Flare Blast, Triggering G3 Geomagnetic Storm Alert
  2. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Gets AI Disclosure on Steam, Crystal Dynamics Clarifies AI Use
  3. iPhone 18 Pro Max Leak Hints at No Significant Changes to Smartphone's Thickness Over Predecessor
  4. OnePlus 16 and iQOO 16 Development Progressing 'Rapidly', Could Launch Sooner Than Expected, Tipster Claims
  5. Nintendo Switch 2 Could Get a Removable Battery Variant Next Year to Comply With EU Regulations
  6. Maa Behen Out on OTT: Know Where to Stream This Madhuri Dixit Starrer Film
  7. FIFA World Cup 2026: LASD Issues Warning Over Crypto Scams Days Ahead of World Cup
  8. Night Shift For Cuties Now Available for Streaming Online: What You Need to Know
  9. Dridam OTT Release Date: When and Where to Watch Shane Nigam’s Crime Thriller Online
  10. Gram Chikitsalay Season 2 OTT Release Date: When and Where to Watch it Online?
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.