Google kills the fact-checking snippet

As usual, big tech is fine to pull journalists in as cover against bad press and regulators and just as willing to throw them out with no consideration. Depressing, but hardly a surprise that they would follow Facebook's lead here. It wasn't surprising because the contempt the tech industry generally has for journalists was all there at the beginning.

Google did not inform fact-checkers that the 10-year collaboration was coming to an end, let alone consult with us on the decision to stop using the fact-checks that we provided for free.

The company says its data shows the fact-checking snippet is “not commonly used in Search” and no longer provides “significant additional value for users,” but did not share the data or analysis that led it to make this decision.

Of course, Google is throwing its users under the bus as well. Right now a fact checking snippet in search results is needed more than ever.

Google is discontinuing this Trust and Safety product in search to prioritize its generative AI Overviews, risking amplifying inaccuracies or hallucinations. I’ve asked Google for comment and will update this post if the company responds.