Microsoft is now labeling news websites that do not follow what it refers to as "basic standards of accuracy and accountability" within the Android and iOS versions of its flagship Edge browser.

Utilizing news authenticity rating service NewsGuard, the mobile version of Microsoft Edge is now automatically providing notifications about websites, such as Daily Mail Online and Breitbart, that fail to meet certain quality standards. The notification reads:

"Proceed with caution: this website generally fails to maintain basic standards of accuracy and accountability."

In an interview with The Guardian, NewsGuard co-founder Steve Brill stated that NewsGuard is happy to hold itself accountable to these ratings and that any complaints or disputes should go through them and not Microsoft. Brill stated “They can blame us. And we’re happy to be blamed. Unlike the platforms we’re happy to be accountable." NewsGuard differentiates itself by relying on journalists to review and give verdicts on sites, and not the usual algorithmically driven processes other information verification services may use.

NewsGuard hopes this rollout on Edge for Android and iOS is the first of many on a variety of platforms that the service also supports, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Further coverage:

The Guardian

Engadget

TechCrunch

The Verge