California Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, tours the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Los Angeles fires still rage. Newsom launched a website to combat rampant misinformation about the fires. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
As deadly wildfires raged in Los Angeles this month, local officials were forced to address a slew of lies and falsehoods spreading quickly online.
From artificial intelligence-generated images of the famous Hollywood sign surrounded by fire to baseless rumors that firefighters were using women’s handbags full of water to douse the flames, misinformation has been rampant. While officials in Southern California fought fire and falsehoods, Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — announced it would eliminate its fact-checking program in the name of free expression…