No perfect solution for fake news: Twitter CEO

coastaldigest.com news network

November 13, 2018

New Delhi, Nov 13: Jack Dorsey, the CEO and co-founder of Twitter has said there has been no perfect solution to deal with the problem of “fake news” and “misinformation” on social media in the context of the upcoming general election.

Speaking at an event in IIT-Delhi, he likened the problem to that of security and said that even the best lock can be broken and the challenge was to keep building better locks.

Responding to a question about the preparedness of social networking giants to curb the spread of fake news ahead of elections in India, Dorsey said companies need to narrow down the real and critical problem on misinformation.

He said that the company’s job is to prevent users from taking action based on misinformation. For instance, a joke can also be misinformation. Therefore it is important to understand the context, he explained.

Describing the issue as a “multi-variable problem”, Dorsey said we need to build a better mechanism to stay ahead of those spreading misinformation on the social networking platform.

He also said that Artificial Intelligence may help build a solution which may be near perfect.

Dorsey’s comments come after Twitter took down more than removed 10 million tweets from accounts suspected to be linked with misinformation campaigns.

These datasets included more than 3,800 accounts related to the IRA, originating in Russia and some 770 accounts from Iran. The datasets included 2 million photos, videos and even Periscope broadcasts. The company has also been purging accounts involved in spreading fake news and rumours.

Appearing before a senate committee in the US, Dorsey acknowledged that the micro-blogging platform was “underprepared and ill-equipped” for misuse of social media. He said that Twitter was built to function as a “public square” but failed address the problem of “abuse, harassment, troll armies, propaganda through bots.”

“We aren’t proud of how that free and open exchange has been weaponised and used to distract and divide people, and our nation,” he told senators. “We found ourselves unprepared and ill-equipped for the immensity of the problems we’ve acknowledged.”

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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