WhatsApp unveils 'tipline' to tackle fake news - News Today | First with the news
Once a WhatsApp user shares a suspicious message with the tipline, PROTO's verification centre will seek to respond and inform the user if the claim made in message shared is verified or not. Continue Reading ?
- WhatsApp today unveiled its 'Checkpoint Tipline', where people can check the authenticity of information received as the messaging giant looks to crack down on fake news ahead of the general election in the country.
- "Launched by PROTO, an India-based media skilling startup, this tipline will help create a database of rumours to study misinformation during elections for Checkpoint – a research project commissioned and technically assisted by WhatsApp," the Facebook-owned company said in a statement.
- It added that starting today, people in India can submit misinformation or rumours they receive to the Checkpoint Tipline on WhatsApp (+91-9643-000-888).
- Interestingly, the Indian government – through proposed changes in IT rules – is seeking to make social media platforms more accountable by mandating them to introduce tools that can identify and disable 'unlawful content'.