WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will help you check online to see if what is said in the messages you receive is actually true. A new search function will enable people to fact-check message and obtain greater context about what is being said.
In a recent blog post, the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has observed an increase in cases of misinformation and publication of fake news, videos and advice through digital platforms by individuals misusing communications platforms like WhatsApp to publish, distribute and forward false, unverified, and/or misleading stories and reports. Such conduct can cause counsels disobedience against the law or to lawful order/guidance, incitement of violence against persons or property, cause financial turmoil in markets, unfounded public anxiety, or put a person’s life in danger by providing misleading guidance. Notably, a single personal post can go viral and lead to additional distorted content.
ALSO READ: WhatsApp is pimping up the Delete Messages feature
Social media is a hotbed of maliciously false – as well as just misguided – information, and more and more platforms are fighting back. Facebook and Twitter have already introduced fact-checking services, and moderators are jumping on certain messages about coronavirus in case they spread dangerously inaccurate information. WhatsApp just launched a coronavirus data hub, and it is currently testing a new search option.
A spokesperson for the company recently told TechCrunch:
We are working on new features to help empower users to find out more information about the messages they receive that have been forwarded many times.
The new feature will enable WhatsApp users to perform a web search based on the contents of messages that have been forwarded to them. This will hopefully make it easier for people to determine the reliability of a message, and to think twice before mindlessly forwarding it on. The issue with WhatsApp or these American made apps they will only fact check information that is written in English and will no consider other local languages.
A we wait for WhatsApp to catch up, UCC called upon members of the public to be vigilant and exercise due care to ensure all information created, posted, shared or forwarded is free from distortion of facts and complies with the existing laws of Uganda by verifying the authenticity of any news stories/reports from official sources before believing, republishing, spreading and/or forwarding of such stories to other persons.
There is no precise timetable for when WhatsApp will roll out this feature to the main version of the app. For now, WhatsApp says: “This feature is currently in testing, and we look forward to rolling it out in the near future”.
