NewsBreak’s use of AI raises concerns, as the app has been involved in several incidents of misinformation since its launch in the United States. The application, which started redistributing content in 2021 from respected newsgroups like CNN, AP, and Reuters, has also been repurposing press releases and local news using artificial intelligence tools.
An incident in Bridgeton, New Jersey, highlighted the potential for harm when NewsBreak reported a false account of an armed attack on Christmas Eve, an event that never took place. The app removed the fake news only after the New Jersey police department publicly refuted the allegations and indicated the source was from another website.
Confusion also arose in Colorado when NewsBreak disseminated incorrect timings for a food bank’s distribution, leading to people being turned away. Despite complaints, the app’s response was inadequate. Additionally, a Pennsylvania charity was misrepresented by NewsBreak claiming they held around-the-clock foot care clinics for the homeless. The app later removed all the false stories related to the charities after Reuters reported the issue. In March, NewsBreak added a disclaimer on its homepage about the potential imperfection of its content.
Beyond spreading misinformation, the app has faced accusations of illegally copying articles from websites without permission and settling at least two lawsuits over copyright violations. Despite being one of the most downloaded news apps in the U.S., NewsBreak predominantly serves a demographic of older, suburban, and rural women who are not college graduates, which might explain why it is not widely recognized.
Backed initially by a partly state-owned media company in China, NewsBreak is tied to Yidian, a subsidiary with links to the Chinese military, according to Pentagon documents. While claiming to be U.S.-based and following U.S. data and privacy laws, former employees have disclosed that a significant part of NewsBreak’s algorithms were developed by engineers in China, challenging the app’s representation of its origins and affiliations. CEO Jeff Zheng assures that the app complies with U.S. regulations and is hosted on Amazon servers within the U.S. However, concerns remain about the extent of access that Chinese employees have to data, despite assurances that it is anonymized.
The topic “Intelligent News App Faces Scrutiny for Misinformation and Copyright Issues” touches on the essential issue of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in media and journalism.
Important Questions:
1. How does NewsBreak’s AI work, and why does it result in misinformation?
2. What measures is NewsBreak taking to address misinformation and copyright issues?
3. What implications do NewsBreak’s connections to China have for user data privacy and national security?
Answers:
1. The AI used by NewsBreak appears to aggregate and disseminate information without adequate fact-checking or source verification, leading to the spread of misinformation.
2. NewsBreak has added a disclaimer about the potential imperfection of its content and removed some of the fake news stories following public outcries. However, details on comprehensive measures to prevent such incidents have not been provided.
3. The connections with China raise concerns about data privacy, as there’s apprehension about whether user data could be accessed by foreign entities. The assurances about data anonymization and U.S. hosting are meant to mitigate these concerns, but skepticism remains.
Key Challenges and Controversies:
– Quality Control: Ensuring the integrity of content disseminated by AI is a key challenge. Accurate identification and verification of sources are crucial in maintaining credibility.
– Legal Implications: Copyright infringements can lead to lawsuits, damaging the company’s finances and reputation.
– Data Privacy: Questions about data handling and potential foreign access to user information remain controversial, especially given the tensions between the U.S. and China on data privacy issues.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
The use of AI in news aggregation services like NewsBreak can potentially offer several benefits:
Advantages:
– Access to personalized content for users.
– Efficient distribution of local news that may lack visibility.
– Support for content delivery at scale, which human editors alone wouldn’t be able to manage.
However, the approach is not without significant disadvantages:
Disadvantages:
– Increased risk of spreading misinformation due to the lack of human oversight.
– Potential violation of copyright laws by repurposing content without proper authorization or attribution.
– Erosion of public trust in news and media applications.
For further information about the topic, you may refer to the following links to reputable sources:
– Reuters
– CNN
– Associated Press (AP)
These links provide access to established and credible media organizations that often address contemporary issues in journalism and the spread of information in the digital age.
The source of the article is from the blog newyorkpostgazette.com