GOOGLE TO FACT-CHECK IMAGES

Google will start including fact checks on images on its platform, building on the fact-checking already implemented on the search engine’s “search” and “news” features, the company announced Monday.

When users search on Google Images they may start seeing a “fact check” label under the thumbnail in image results, it said in the announcement.

Users will see a summary of the fact check on the underlying web page when they click to see results of the image in a larger format.

“Photos and videos are an incredible way to help people understand what’s going on in the world. But the power of visual media has its pitfalls⁠ — especially when there are questions surrounding the origin, authenticity or context of an image,” Google said.

Google said fact-check labels on results come from “independent, authoritative sources on the web” that meet the search engine’s criteria.

As with its “search” feature, Google said a fact check label in Google Images does not affect the search engine’s ranking, which is designed to “surface the most relevant, reliable information available.”