WhatsApp is launching a new fact-checking service. Reuters reports that users will be able to forward messages to the Checkpoint Tipline, where a team lead by local startup Proto will asses and mark them as either “true,” “false,” “misleading,” or “disputed.” These messages will also be used to create a database to study and understand the spread of misinformation. The service will initially be used ahead of India’s upcoming elections due to start on April 11th, and final results are expected on May 23rd.
The Facebook-owned messaging service has come under continuous fire for facilitating the spread of false and misleading information all over the world. In Uganda during the 2016 elections we saw the government block all social media platforms which later introduced OTT tax to curb spreading of fake news among other reasons.
Reuters reports that WhatsApp’s fact-checking service, which launched today, may be experiencing some initial problems. A message reported by the outlet was still awaiting classification two hours later.
A total of five languages will be supported by Checkpoint Tipline — English, Hindi, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam — and the service will support misinformation spread in the form of text, videos, and images. Separately, WhatsApp also recently tested adding the ability for users to reverse image search images in an apparent attempt to allow users to verify their authenticity.
The Checkpoint Tipline is just one of a range of changes WhatsApp has made to its service to combat the spread of misinformation. The service has also limited the number of times a message can be forwarded to five, and now also applies a label to any forwarded messages.
