Google to spend $30 million to combat misinformation, fake news in Europe

Google said that it will be spending nearly $30 million to tackle misinformation and fake news in Europe.

"Google is contributing €25 million to help launch the European Media and Information Fund to strengthen media literacy skills, fight misinformation and support fact-checking," Matt Brittin, the president of Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, announced Wednesday in a blog post.

The money will be added to a partnership with the European University Institute, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European Digital Media Observatory over the course of the next five years.

Google said it wants to provide funds to groups that support media literacy skills, support fact-checkers and support fighting misinformation.

"Our commitment today builds on our previous grants to fact checkers and nonprofits, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines, and our work to tackle misinformation in the run up to other major events, such as elections," Brittin said.

Goggle now becomes the first company to contribute to the European Media and Information Fund. It will also support other organizations that look to increase media literacy in younger generations, according to The Hill newspaper.