WhatsApp fake news prevention tip line: How to report and identify misinformation

WhatsApp has a huge challenge at hand ahe of 2019 Indian general elections to curb fake news on messaging platform. We have alrey seen impact Social media platforms including Twitter and Facebook have h and huge role y end up playing in election campaigns all over world. WhatsApp with more than 200 million users has a massive responsibility of preventing fake news, rumours and misinformation from spreing on platform.

Over last few weeks, Facebook-owned instant messaging company has anunced several new rules and guidelines to regulate its platform. For example, labelling forwarded messs and restricting number of times one card forward a particular mess to his or her contacts.

For WhatsApp, finding fake news is just like finding a needle in a haystack and given that WhatsApp always boasts of end-to-encryption, it should be just impossible for WhatsApp to monitor mess’s content. That is why WhatsApp needs our help to kw what is real and what is fake.

Recently, a media-skilling start-up PROTO anunced a new WhatsApp fake news prevention tip line in India so that you can report fake news directly to concerned authority. Here’s how you can tip off any fake news or misinformation you might have come across:

WhatsApp fake news prevention tipline: How to report fake news

WhatsApp fake news prevention tipline number is +91 9643000888. All you need to do is save contact on your phone. Once you d this number to your dress book, refresh your WhatsApp. It is a verified WhatsApp business account.

This tipline of a research project commissioned by WhatsApp. It will create a database to study misleing information spre during elections.

“Thanks for getting in touch! Please confirm that you want to verify this item. Send 1 for 'yes', 2 for ''”

For demonstration purpose, we shared with tipline one story that seemed like fake news to us. Check screenshots below:

" goal of this project is to study misinformation phemen at scale -- natively in WhatsApp," said PROTO.

Tips on how to identify fake news

Reporting fake news over tipline is easy. However, identifying fake news is t an easy job. That is why WhatsApp offers some tips on how to identify fake news.

Understand difference between a mess and a forwarded mess. For example, when you receive a forwarded mess from someone, do keep in mind that you are t only recipient and chances are that mess is intended for a much bigger audience. Sometimes that raises eugh suspicion especially when you are t so sure who wrote original mess.

“Fake news often goes viral. Even if a mess is shared many times, this does t make it true. Don't forward a mess because sender is urging you to do so,” WhatsApp says on its FAQ website.

WhatsApp urges users to verify content of mess with or sources. So, in case you are t sure if content of mess is accurate, you can certainly do some research and fact-check on your own. You can also make use of trusted news websites and portals to kw where story originated from.

It would be best if you also refrained from participating in random WhatsApp groups as most of misinformation is often propagated through se WhatsApp groups. Today, WhatsApp anunced rollout of new group privacy controls to prevent random strangers from ding you to groups without your consent.

According to reports, WhatsApp is working on im search functionality that if put to good use can identify misinformation spre in form of ims.

In February, WhatsApp ackwledged that political parties in India have often attempted to misuse platform. WhatsApp also issued an ultimatum to Indian political parties to prevent misuse of platform.