A lot of misinformation and fake news has been doing the rounds ever since the deadly coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc worldwide. Myths and rumours have been spreading throughout the nation similar to the fast pace of the virus which has increased the demand for fact-checking websites to make people aware of the situation and slow down the spread of misinformation.
On Thursday, The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), a part of the Poynter Institute launched its latest Whatsapp chatbot in Hindi for fact-checking fake news and misinformation related to COVID-19 on a global scale. Whatsapp has around 400 million users out of which 44% of the population is familiar with Hindi language, therefore this new feature would be helpful for them.
However, the chatbot service is already available in English and Spanish.
The service enables the users on Whatsapp to seek answers to questions regarding coronavirus and also clarify any kind of published information or data they distrust or seems fake to them with fact-checkers from the COVID-19 association. It also allows them to check if any of the independent fact-checkers have categorized any particular COVID-19 news or information as false.
IFCN's Director, Baybars Orsek said in a statement, "The new IFCN chatbot in Hindi will allow users to search for fact checks and get connected with fact-checkers from their smartphones," Baybars Orsek, IFCN''s Director, said in a statement."
"The chatbot will also serve as a way to direct people to their local fact-checkers websites," he added.
The IFCN comprises of a team of 11 fact-checkers out of which seven publish content in Hindi version.
"WhatsApp recently provided a grant to Poynter''s IFCN to support the valuable work of its verified signatories around the world in combating COVID-19 misinformation. We are very pleased to now be able to support IFCN''s essential fact-checking work with the launch of this important service for WhatsApp users," said Ben Supple, Public Policy Manager & amp; Global Election Lead at WhatsApp.
Some of the fact-checkers include Fact Crescendo, India Today, Vishwas News ( fact-checking unit of Jagran Group), Newschecker, Boom Fact Check, News Mobile and The Quint.
There are around 250 fact checks in the Hindi database for an initial start which will be regularly updated with latest fact checks.
More than 80 fact-checking companies from 74 countries came across 6,600 hoaxes related to the deadly virus. All this information has been listed under the CoronaVirusFacts database.
IFCN chatbot is absolutely free for use and the WhatsApp users can get access to the IFCN fact-checking chatbot by saving the number +1(727) 2912606 in their mobile phones and the Hindi version will be available after sending a message reading 'Namaste' in Hindi language. Portal will give access to the other options.
"Billions of users rely on WhatsApp to stay in touch with their friends and families every month. Since bad actors use every single platform to disseminate falsehoods, to mislead others during such troubling times, fact-checkers' work is more important than ever," Orsek said in a statement.
Besides this, many fact-checking websites have been launched to protect people from fake news including the Government of India's fact-checking portal on Whatsapp called MyGovt Corona HelpDesk. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also rolled out a chatbot service to clarify information related to COVID-19.
