A federal government agency is spending $750,000 of taxpayers' cash to develop tools which will scold journalists that their stories may trigger arguments among readers.
The project, titled America's Fourth Estate at Risk: A System for Mapping the (Local) Journalism Life Cycle to Rebuild the Nation's News Trust, is part of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Trust & Authenticity in Communication Systems initiative.
That cash has been given to Temple University in Philadelphia, with researchers now working on a tool to prevent 'the triggering of uncivil, polarizing discourse, audience misinterpretation, the production of misinformation, and the perpetuation of false narratives.'
Researchers there say they'll process natural language into an algorithm, and combine this with data on how social media is used to devise the new tool.
The National Science Foundation gave a $750,000 grant to Temple University (pictured) in Philadelphia and researchers are now working on a tool to prevent 'the triggering of uncivil, polarizing discourse, audience misinterpretation, the production of misinformation, and the perpetuation of false narratives'
But they have yet to give examples of material which could 'trigger uncivil, polarizing discourse', and explain further how the tool will tell the difference between a healthy debate online, and more angry exchanges.
And the project has sparked further concern after saying journalists will be warned if their stories could be twisted online to spread misinformation, even though there's no suggestion that the work they've produced is inaccurate.
'So, you can imagine sort of an analytics tool that informs the journalists and editors and other people involved in this business how their products or how their creative act is used or misused in social media,' Temple University professor Eduard Dragut, who is familiar with the project, told Campus Reform.
'We want journalists to be part of the process, not just the mere users of the product itself.'
The NSF, in a press release, claimed the 'overarching track goal' of the initiative is to 'address the urgent need for tools and techniques to help the nation effectively prevent, mitigate and adapt to critical threats to communication systems'.
The National Science Foundation (pictured) claimed the 'overarching track goal' of the initiative is to 'address the urgent need for tools and techniques to help the nation effectively prevent, mitigate and adapt to critical threats to communication systems'
The NSF researchers also hope to help journalists better understand and measure the long-term communication impact of their content, not just the initial reactions such as views, likes or shares (Pictured: Temple University student newsroom)
The organization argued that modern life and economic growth are 'dependent' on access to 'trustworthy and accurate information' and the communication systems can be 'manipulated or
