US news website rating tool Newsguard has reversed its verdict on Daily Mail UK after originally ranking the website as "untrustworthy" and "inaccurate".
Earlier this week, visitors to Mail Online who use Microsoft Edge were presented with a warning message when visiting the dailymail.co.uk, urging them to look elsewhere for accountable sources.
However, Newsguard has now admitted its ranking was wrong and declared Mail Online “generally maintains basic standards of accuracy and accountability”.
Newsguard said the changes had been made following discussions with an unnamed Daily Mail executive.
Newsguard runs a free extension for the Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers that provdes a “red” or “green” rating to news websites based on its judgement of their trustworthiness decided by a group of industry veterans.
The newly-instated system comes as fake news has plagued digital platforms, such as Facebook and Google, and led to false information being spread globally.
While Mail Online has now been ranked green, Newsguard said it still fails to gather and present information responsibility, handle the difference between news and opinion responsibly and provide the names of content creators with contact information.
In its editor’s note on the updated “nutrition label” for Mail Online, Newsguard said: “This label now has the benefit of the dailymail.co.uk’s input and our view is that in some important respects their objections are right and we were wrong, which we think demonstrates the value of the transparency and accountability that imbues what we do."
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.