WikiLeaks has blasted news-rating app NewsGuard after it gave the whistleblower site a ‘red’ rating, warning users that WikiLeaks “fails to maintain basic standards of accuracy” despite its perfect record.

NewsGuard claims to help combat fake news online and defend against “disinformation” but its links to the US government have caused some to call its objectivity into question.

In a tweet responding to the news that Microsoft has partnered with NewsGuard to add it as an extension to its Edge web browser by default, WikiLeaks claimed the news-rating app was “pushing US security state news imperialism across the world” and reminded users that WikiLeaks has a “perfect” record on accuracy. Since its beginnings, no documents published by WikiLeaks were ever found to be inauthentic.

Microsoft adds neocon app "NewsGuard" to its Edge webrowser by default pushing U.S. security state news imperialism across the world. Gives green tick rating for Voice of America & Fox News but red mark for @WikiLeaks despite admitting perfect accuracy. https://t.co/gn4Cq22507pic.twitter.com/atd0Ouucdy — WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 14, 2019

In fact, buried within its lengthy warning label for WikiLeaks, NewsGuard actually admits that the site has never published fake information, saying that the information it has published has “never been shown to be fake” and that there are no confirmed cases of any published documents being “doctored” either.

Buried in @NewsGuardRating's 'RED' warning label for @WikiLeaks, they admit that NO documents ever published by the site have ever turned out to be fake. Strange how former CIA and NSA directors don't want you reading WikiLeaks, isn't it? pic.twitter.com/zLrK95QqBr — Danielle Ryan (@DanielleRyanJ) January 15, 2019

NewsGuard browser extension rates news and information sites according to nine criteria, one of which is that a site “regularly corrects or clarifies errors.” WikiLeaks was given a red rating on this point, despite NewsGuard admitting that it has only ever published accurate information. WikiLeaks responded on Twitter to say that it does not regularly publish corrections “as a result of literally having nothing to retract.” WikiLeaks branded the extension “ridiculous” and slammed Microsoft for having “any association” with it.

NewsGuard admits WikiLeaks has a 100% publication accuracy then, in a revealing moment, gives WikiLeaks red mark for "failing" to publish retractions--as a result of literally having nothing to retract. NewsGuard is ridiculous and so is Microsoft for having any association. — WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 15, 2019

Haha Microsoft is partnering with NewsGuard — whose advisory board consists almost entirely of former top US national security state operatives — to supposedly fight "fake news"https://t.co/2oYJIMYNha — Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) January 10, 2019

NewsGuard was co-founded by Louis Gordon Crovitz, who has previously worked for the Heritage Foundation, a heavily conservative Washington-based think tank which pushes for US military action around the world. Crovitz himself has been accused by his own sources of publishing “fantastically false information.”

The browser extension, which bills itself as unbiased and objective, also has a former CIA and NSA director on its advisory board, as well as former US State Department officials and an ex-White House communications director. Skeptics of the NewsGuard app and its intentions have pointed out that, while it rates US government-funded websites with a ‘green’ label, it rates sites like RT and WikiLeaks with a ‘red’ label.

NewsGuard ranks websites on the basis of how reliable it deems them. It wants to:1) Press companies to stop advertising on poorly ranked sites2) Have schools install its plugins3) Team up with social media giantsThe obvious goal is to further marginalize dissident voices. — Koen Swinkels (@KoenSwinkels) January 10, 2019

Look at how a US government-funded website is rated on 'trustworthiness' by the Big Brother-style NewsGuard app vs. how they rate RT🤔Would it shock you to learn that NewsGuard has deep connections to the US government? 😂 pic.twitter.com/EdbfVz22EY — Danielle Ryan (@DanielleRyanJ) January 10, 2019

Like this story? Share it with a friend!