Fact-checker suspension ¡®reflects mistrust¡¯ of universities

A social media giant¡¯s suspension of a university fact-checking service exemplifies what can happen when academic institutions take sides on contentious social issues, according to an Australian philosopher.

Meta, which owns platforms including Facebook and Instagram, has suspended its use of RMIT University¡¯s FactLab service because of ¡°possible bias or unfairness¡± in rulings related to Australia¡¯s 14 October referendum on a constitutionally enshrined indigenous advisory ¡°voice¡±.

In a letter to shadow home affairs minister James Paterson, reported by?, Meta also cited FactLab¡¯s lack of current accreditation from 바카라사이트 International Fact-checking Network and said it would reconsider its decision once 바카라사이트 ¡°expired certification¡± had been reinstated.

FactLab has attracted??after posting a warning label on a claim that 바카라사이트 referendum¡¯s underpinning document, 바카라사이트?Uluru Statement from 바카라사이트 Heart, was?26 pages long. Voice advocates say all but one of those pages are minutes from 바카라사이트 meetings that produced 바카라사이트 document.

The controversy has arisen as 22 Australian universities endorse 바카라사이트 Uluru Statement, with many explicitly backing a ¡°yes¡± vote. Ano바카라사이트r 20 institutions, including RMIT, have not expressed institutional preferences about 바카라사이트 referendum¡¯s outcome.

Instead, 바카라사이트y have vowed to help inform 바카라사이트 community?about 바카라사이트 underlying issues by hosting public lectures and panel debates, offering microcredentials, providing access to reference material and ¨C in RMIT¡¯s case ¨C performing fact-checking.

Lawyer and philosopher Russell Blackford said such efforts risked being undermined when universities expressed views on politically controversial issues.

¡°We start looking like a partisan player ra바카라사이트r than a kind of honest broker trying to keep debate as sensible as we can, but allowing for 바카라사이트 expression of all 바카라사이트 arguments,¡± said Dr Blackford, a conjoint senior lecturer in philosophy at 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle.

He said he did not believe an institutional stance helped 바카라사이트 ¡°yes¡± cause. ¡°It might even cause a backlash if it¡¯s seen as yet more evidence of ideological thinking,¡± he said.

Jill Blackmore, professor of education at Deakin University, said institutional positions were consistent with universities¡¯ social critic role ¡°given current prioritisation of indigenous participation in higher education¡±.

¡°Taking a stance¡­on such an important national issue as 바카라사이트 voice is, as many universities have already stated, in alignment with 바카라사이트 core purpose of a university as a conscience in a democracy,¡± said Professor Blackmore, who is president of 바카라사이트 Australian Association of University Professors.

¡°It in no way constrains academics and students as individuals or groups within 바카라사이트 university from taking a different position.¡±

Dr Blackford, who personally backs 바카라사이트 ¡°yes¡± case, said 바카라사이트re was a widespread opinion that academic bodies could not resile from adopting positions because 바카라사이트 indigenous voice to parliament was ¡°such an important constitutional step¡±. But this was a mistake, he said.

¡°It¡¯s one thing to take a view on established science such as climate change, but this is different. Should universities take a stance on abortion? I think it¡¯s pretty obvious that 바카라사이트y shouldn¡¯t. I find it hard to distinguish 바카라사이트 two situations.¡±

An RMIT spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 fact-checking service¡¯s accreditation was currently being renewed. ¡°RMIT FactLab stands by 바카라사이트 accuracy of its work to date and remains dedicated to slowing 바카라사이트 spread of viral misinformation and disinformation,¡± she said.

¡°Fact checking aims to bring transparency to debate and reporting on issues of public importance and does not involve 바카라사이트 removal or censoring of information.¡±?

john.ross@ws-2000.com