WhatsApp Launches New Fact-Check Service To Curb Fake News Ahead Of Elections

Meenu Katariya

With just a week to go for general elections 2019, WhatsApp has launched a fact-checking service in India to help curb the spread of fake news.

Scroll

According to a report by Reuters, the new service called Checkpoint Tipline, will check the veracity of information. 

In its statement, the company said that it has tied up with Indian startup Proto and two other organisations, Dig Deeper Media and Meedan, for the service.

The Pioneer

WhatsApp users will have to add the number +91-9643000888 to their contacts and submit a rumour as a text or image message.

Checkpoint Tipline will then classify the information as true, false, misleading, disputed or out of scope.

Businessworld

Last year too, it limited message forwarding to five people in an attempt to limit the virality of information spread on the app.

Business Today

With over 200 million WhatApp users in India, this is a crucial step to curb the menace of fake news and rumours.

You might also like
Delhi Air Pollution: Stage IV Curbs to Now Apply at Stage III Under New GRAP Rejig — Full List of Restrictions
Seven Maoists Killed in Andhra Pradesh Encounter a Day After Madvi Hidma’s Elimination
Delhi Air Quality Deteriorates to ‘Severe’; Construction Halted, Schools Shift to Hybrid Mode up to Class 5
Dare. Drop. Win. The Creator Rebellion Rides With Pulsar Underground
Snabbit Bags $30Mn in Third Fundraise This Year, Clocks Over 3 Lakh Jobs in October
₹1.2 Crore Delhi Cloud Seeding Trial Fails to Produce Artificial Rain; AAP Takes ‘Lord Indra’ Dig