WhatsApp plans awards to check fake info

New Delhi, July 3

WhatsApp on Tuesday said it would be instituting awards for research on “spread of misinformation” on its platform, as the messaging app looks to address concerns over circulation of fake messages and videos.

“WhatsApp cares deeply about the safety of our users. Through this new project, we look forward to working with leading academic experts in India to learn more about how online platforms are used to spread misinformation,” a WhatsApp spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said this local research would help the company build upon recent changes it has made within WhatsApp and support broad education to help people spot false news and hoaxes.

In a blog post, the company said WhatsApp Research Awards would provide funding for independent research proposals that are designed to be shared with WhatsApp, Facebook, and wider scholarly and policy communities. 

These "unrestricted monetary awards" would offer investigators the freedom to deepen and extend their existing research portfolio, it added. Recently, there have been a spate of lynching cases across various states in India that were purportedly triggered by WhatsApp messages.

The government today sent out a stern warning to the Facebook-owned platform to take urgent steps to prevent the spread of "irresponsible and explosive messages" and said it cannot evade its accountability on the issue. — PTI