Facebook says it will not remove fake news

Person holding a brand new Apple iPhone 6s with Facebook profile on the screen. Facebook is a social media online service for microblogging and networking, founded in February 4, 2004. [Courtesy]

Facebook says it will not remove fake news from its platform because it does not violate its community standards.

The social network has been scrutinised for its role in spreading fake news after evidence emerged that Russia tried to influence US voters using the social network.

But it said publishers often had “very different points of view” and removing fabricated posts would be “contrary to the basic principles of free speech”.

Instead, it says posts that it deems to be fake news will be “demoted” in the news feed.