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Social Media Can’t Police Fake News, Says Ballmer

With big technology companies facing criticism over potential manipulation by Russians trying to influence the US presidential election, Twitter shareholder and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said technology companies can’t do more at present to police the spread of fake news.

Ballmer, in an interview with Bloomberg Television, said he would like to see social networks, such as Facebook, adopt some sort of system in the future for noting trusted sources – but said they shouldn’t be measured the same way as news organisations.

Ballmer, who in April released a government data Web site called USAFacts, said voters need places to find objective facts rather than information that validates their views or makes them feel good.