IIT-Bombay is trying to help WhatsApp fight fake news
What's the story
With the government increasing pressure on WhatsApp to bring more robust features against the proliferation of fake news, it seems that WhatsApp has found an unlikely ally.
Reportedly, IIT-Bombay is keen to help WhatsApp; and a group of academicians from the institute are already working towards potential solutions.
Notably, last month WhatsApp had also announced research awards for the same.
Here are the details.
Finding solutions
How WhatsApp hopes to find concrete solutions to the problem
In a bid to find solutions to the menace of fake news, WhatsApp, last month, announced that it planned to work with leading academic experts in India, and commission a competitive set of awards for researchers.
Applications are due on August 12, and WhatsApp has promised grant awards of up to $50,000 as per research proposal, and a trip to its Menlo Park headquarters.
IIT-Bombay
IIT-Bombay has already submitted a proposal against fake news
A team led by Professor Kameswari Chebrolu, from IIT-Bombay's Computer Science and Engineering department, is considering sending its current research proposal.
Further, IIT-Bombay has already submitted a proposal on curbing fake news to the government, under the MHRD's IMPRINT (Impact, Research, Innovation, and Technology) India Initiative.
IIT-Bombay is still awaiting a response from the government.
Do you know?
What is the IMPRINT India initiative?
The MHRD's IMPRINT India initiative is a first-of-its-kind pan-IIT and IISc joint initiative to develop a roadmap and power research to solve major engineering and technology challenges as per India's needs. In future, the program will cover all academic and research institutes in India.
Academia
How tech companies are turning to academia for solutions
In addition to fake news, WhatsApp is looking to leverage India's academic community on a host of areas including information processing of problematic content, use of WhatsApp and its impact on elections, the characteristics of networks and content, relation between digital literacy and vulnerability to misinformation, etc.
Globally, too, companies like Facebook and Twitter often turn to academia to tackle misinformation and hate speech.
Recap
The story so far: WhatsApp, fake forwards, the government
To recall, WhatsApp, after a spate of fake news-induced lynching incidents, has already introduced several features on its app - some of these include a forwarded label on messages, group chat control features, etc.
However, the government has demanded more robust features other than mere interface changes, warning WhatsApp of consequences if it fails to do so.