Now, use WhatsApp tip-line to check fake news: Here's how
What's the story
In the run-up to the upcoming General Elections, WhatsApp's biggest challenge is to curb the spread of fake news in India. The messaging platform recently launched campaigns to help people assess misinformation, and now, as part of the same effort, it's launching a dedicated tip-line. This means that you can directly ask WhatsApp if a piece of information is true. Here's how it works.
Working
Checkpoint Tip-line: How it works
As The Next Web reports, WhatsApp has partnered with Proto (a media skilling start-up), Dig Deeper Media (a digital strategy consultancy), and San Francisco-based Meedan to offer a fact-checking service. Basically, you would be able to share a dubious message with WhatsApp's dedicated team of fact-checkers who will verify if the story is true or not, and then inform you about its authenticity.
Quote
Service to clarify the information type
"The response will indicate if information is classified as true, false, misleading, disputed or out of scope and include any other related information that is available," WhatsApp said explaining how the service would work.
Research
Project will also help WhatsApp
While the fact-checking service would help Indians stay clear of election propaganda or any other type of fake news (like aliens coming over), WhatsApp would also reap benefits from the service. Basically, Proto would create a full database of fake news using the messages sent by users and study those reports for Checkpoint, a research project commissioned and assisted by WhatsApp.
Use
How to use the tip-line
For using the tip-line, forward the dubious message in question, be it a rumor, news, link or photo/video, to this number - +91-9643-000-888. After this, reply with '1' when prompted to confirm that you want to get the last message verified. The service will then take your request and carry out a thorough review with fact checks to assess the authenticity of the message.
Information
You can use WhatsApp tip-line in different languages
WhatsApp will also offer regional support for the tip-line. So, along with English, you'd also be able to verify news and messages in Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, and Malayalam. The service is live and you can use it right away.
Problem
WhatsApp has been tackling the problem of fake news
The tip-line from WhatsApp comes as the service continues to tackle the problem of fake news in India. Previously, the Facebook-owned company had launched television ad campaigns and workshops to make people aware of the issue. The latest initiative will surely boost its effort, but in order to use it to the fullest, WhatsApp needs to inform more people about the tip-line.