Social media fake news timeline

Nov 10, 2016: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (above) describes idea that so-called “fake news” influenced 2016 U.S. presidential election as “a pretty crazy idea”

Jan 6, 2017: Report from Director of National Intelligence concludes that Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) ordered Kremlin propaganda campaign to target Hillary Clinton’s credibility and boost Donald Trump’s chances of winning presidency

Jul 20: Trump digital campaign team member Gary Coby tells CNN that Facebook worked directly with Trump campaign

Aug 3: Facebook says it will fight fake news by sending suspect hoax stories to fact-checkers

Sep 6: Facebook reveals $100,000 spent on political ads was linked to Russia

Sep 15: Special counsel Robert Mueller (below) orders Facebook to hand over 3,000 election ads linked to Russia

Sep 28: Twitter reveals Russian news site RT spent $274,100 on ads in 2016

Oct 19: Honest Ads Act introduced in Senate. If passed, Act will require political ads on social media to follow same rules as broadcast and print media

Oct 31: At Senate hearing Facebook reveals that political ads from Kremlin-based Internet Research Agency (IRA) reached 126 million users. IRA propaganda featured in 1.4 million Twitter messages and was uploaded in 1,100-plus videos to Google-owned YouTube


Sources: Senate Judiciary Committee, The Hill, WSJ Pictures: Associated Press             © GRAPHIC NEWS