New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) The International Fact-Checking Network, a unit of the Poynter Institute, on Thursday launched the Hindi version of its global chatbot for WhatsApp to fight misinformation about Covid-19. The service was previously available in English and Spanish. It allows people to easily check whether information about the coronavirus was classified as false by any of the independent fact-checkers in the CoronaVirusFacts Alliance, coordinated by the IFCN. "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." WhatsApp has over 400 million users in India, where around 44 per cent of the population understands the Hindi language. The IFCN therefore decided to translate its WhatsApp chatbot into Hindi to bust fake news around COVID-19. "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. The IFCN has 11 fact-checking members in India and seven of them publish content in Hindi. Since January, more than 80 fact-checking organizations from 74 countries have identified more than 6,600 hoaxes related to the novel coronavirus. All this information now forms the CoronaVirusFacts database. IFCN's bot is free to use. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/how-to-use-ifcns-whatsapp-fact-checker-to-fight-coronavirus-misinformation/articleshow/75546862.cms">How to use IFCN’s WhatsApp fact checker to fight Coronavirus misinformation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/how-to-fact-check-fake-news-on-whatsapp/articleshow/74451906.cms">How to fact check fake news on WhatsApp</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/whatsapp-update-new-feature-to-include-fact-checker-bot-from-ifcn/articleshow/75537631.cms">WhatsApp will now have its own fact-checking bot to curb misinformation around COVID-19</a>

IFCN's WhatsApp chatbot to fight Covid-19 misinformation now available in Hindi

New Delhi, Jun 11 () The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) on Thursday launched the Hindi version of its global fact-checking COVID-19 chatbot for WhatsApp. The service, which was previously available in English and Spanish, was developed to combat misinformation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows people to check whether information about the coronavirus is classified as false by any of the independent fact-checkers in the CoronaVirusFacts Alliance, coordinated by the IFCN. WhatsApp has over 400 million users in India, where around 44 per cent of the population understands the Hindi language. The IFCN, therefore, decided to translate its WhatsApp chatbot into Hindi to bust fake news around COVID-19, a statement said. "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," IFCN Director Baybars Orsek said. Orsek added that since January, IFCN's CoronavirusFacts Alliance has been utilising the capacity of the fact-checking community to help users to sort truth from fiction by debunking falsehoods around the COVID-19 pandemic. "The new IFCN chatbot in Hindi will allow users to search for fact checks and get connected with fact-checkers from their smartphones. The chatbot will also serve as a way to direct people to their local fact-checkers' websites," Orsek said. The IFCN has 11 fact-checking members in India and seven of them publish content in Hindi. Jagran Group's fact-checking unit, Vishvas News, is one of them and is coordinating the translation efforts. The Hindi chatbot offers content from Vishvas News, Fact Crescendo, India Today, Newschecker, Boom Fact Check, News Mobile and The Quint. The database available in Hindi starts with more than 250 fact-checks and will be updated daily - following the same structure of the English and the Spanish chatbots, the statement said. Since January, more than 80 fact-checking organisations from 74 countries have identified more than 6,600 hoaxes related to the novel coronavirus. All this information now forms the CoronaVirusFacts database. IFCN's chatbot is free to use. "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," Ben Supple, Public Policy Manager &amp; Global Election Lead at WhatsApp, said. SR RVK

IFCN launches WhatsApp chatbot about COVID-19 in Hindi

<ul><li>The International Fact-Checking Network has launched a <keyword id="790242" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="WhatsApp">WhatsApp</keyword> chatbot to fact check information about <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword>.</li><li>The chatbot allows users to check whether the information received by them is authentic or not.</li><li>Users can also use the IFCN chatbot to identify fact checkers near them.</li></ul>The Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted life across the world and over 3.6 million people have been infected. Misinformation has also been a huge problem as social media platforms have been used to spread fake news about Coronavirus. WhatsApp has over 2 billion monthly active users and there have been several instances where the messaging app has been used to spread fake news. To help users stay safe during the Coronavirus pandemic, the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) has launched a WhatsApp chatbot that allows them to fact check fake news. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75540567" title="Antidote to pandemic of misinformation amid COVID-19 is fact-based news: UN chief" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> How to fact check using IFCN’s WhatsApp chatbot <div type="image" title="Image 1" msid="75546851" hostid="261"></div> <ul><li>To use the IFCN’s WhatsApp chatbot save the number on your phone – +1 (727) 29192606 or click <a href="http://poy.nu/ifcnbot">here</a> from your phone. </li><li>Now, send ‘Hi’. </li><li>You will get the available options and all you need to do is send a number as per the option you want. </li></ul>Here are the available options you can choose from – 1 – Search for fact checks 2 – Latest fact checks 3 – Tips to fight misinformation 4 – Find Fact-checkers near me 5 – About us 6 – Privacy <div type="image" title="Image 2" msid="75546861" hostid="261"></div> <ul><li>If you want to check if the information that you have received is fake, send ‘1’. </li><li>Now, send the keywords or a sentence about the news. </li><li>The chatbot will reply with related results. </li></ul>You can also use the chatbot to find fact checkers near you or view the latest reports that have been fact checked. “Since January, IFCN’s CoronavirusFacts Alliance has been utilizing the capacity of the fact-checking community to help users to sort truth from fiction by debunking falsehoods around the COVID-19 pandemic. The IFCN chatbot will allow users to search for fact checks and get connected with fact-checkers in their countries from their smartphones. The chatbot will also serve as a way to direct people to their local fact-checkers’ websites.” said Baybars Orsek, IFCN's Director. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/whatsapp-update-new-feature-to-include-fact-checker-bot-from-ifcn/articleshow/75537631.cms">WhatsApp will now have its own fact-checking bot to curb misinformation around COVID-19</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/one-of-the-internets-oldest-fact-checking-organizations-is-overwhelmed-by-coronavirus-misinformation-and-it-could-have-deadly-consequences/articleshow/74919399.cms">One of the internet's oldest fact-checking organizations is overwhelmed by coronavirus misinformation - and it could have deadly consequences</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/how-to-fact-check-fake-news-on-whatsapp/articleshow/74451906.cms">How to fact check fake news on WhatsApp</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/facebook-working-with-8-third-party-fact-checkers-to-flag-misinformation-around-covid-19/articleshow/75278356.cms">Facebook working with 8 third-party fact checkers to flag misinformation around COVID-19</a>

How to use IFCN’s WhatsApp fact checker to fight Coronavirus misinformation

Poynter Institutes International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) on Monday launched its chatbot on WhatsApp to help two billion users of the Facebook-owned instant messaging platform to check veracity of information related to COVID-19. The IFCN's bot connects people with independent fact-checkers in more than 70 countries and also with the largest database of debunked falsehoods related to the new coronavirus. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75343540" title="To be India’s Alibaba, Mukesh Ambani wants a super app with Facebook⁠— but an all-in-one app is not known to work so far" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> By using the IFCN's bot on WhatsApp, citizens from all over the world will be able to easily check whether a piece of content about COVID-19 has already been rated as false by professional fact-checkers. Since January, more than 80 fact-checking organisations from 74 countries have identified more than 4,000 hoaxes related to the novel coronavirus. All this information now forms the CoronaVirusFacts database and is updated daily by the IFCN so chatbot users can navigate and easily access its content. The IFCN's bot also provides users with a global directory of fact-checking organisations. The system is capable of identifying the user's country via the person's mobile country code and then providing them with their closest fact-checking organisations. The person can then submit a piece of information for review directly to its local fact-checker or visit its website to learn more about what has been circulating in the region. "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," Baybars Orsek, IFCN's Director, said in a statement. "The IFCN chatbot will allow users to search for fact checks and get connected with fact-checkers in their countries from their smartphones. The chatbot will also serve as a way to direct people to their local fact-checkers' websites," Orsek said. IFCN's bot is free to use. Users should save +1 (727) 2912606 as a contact number and text the word ‘hi' to get the bot started. Initially, the bot will be available only in English, but other languages, including Hindi, Spanish and Portuguese, will follow soon, IFCN said. WhatsApp recently launched several initiatives in support of the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, one of them being a $1 million grant to IFCN. "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," said Ben Supple, Public Policy Manager &amp; Global Election Lead at WhatsApp. "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," Supple said. SEE ALSO: <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75267904" title="Here is how you can pay your rent using your credit card" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75267159" title="WhatsApp group calls limit extended to 8 users" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75064117" title="WhatsApp advanced search will help you find your photos, videos and links in chats" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

WhatsApp will now have its own fact-checking bot to curb misinformation around COVID-19

New Delhi, May 4 () Poynter Institute's International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) on Monday launched a WhatsApp chatbot that has been built to address the challenge of misinformation, particularly during COVID-19 pandemic.By using the IFCN's bot on WhatsApp, citizens from all over the world will be able to easily check whether a piece of content about COVID-19 has already been rated as false by professional fact-checkers, a statement said.Initially, the IFCN's bot - which is free to use - will be available only in English, but other languages, including Hindi, Spanish and Portuguese, will follow soon, it added."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," IFCN Director Baybars Orsek said.The IFCN's bot has been built to address the challenge of misinformation, particularly during COVID-19 pandemic, by connecting people with independent fact-checkers in more than 70 countries and also with the largest database of debunked falsehoods related to the new coronavirus, the statement said.Since January, more than 80 fact-checking organisations from 74 countries have identified more than 4,000 hoaxes related to novel coronavirus. The information has been compiled in the CoronaVirusFacts database and is updated daily by IFCN, so that chatbot users can navigate and easily access its content.The system is capable of identifying the user's country via the person's mobile country code and then providing them with their closest fact-checking organisations. The user can then submit a piece of information for review directly to its local fact-checker or visit its website to learn more about what has been circulating in the region.Ben Supple, Public Policy Manager and Global Election Lead at WhatsApp, said the platform has 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. There are now more than 40 IFCN-verified fact-checkers around the world that are using the WhatsApp Business app to debunk coronavirus hoaxes for citizens in their respective countries," Supple said. SR BALBAL

International Fact-Checking Network launches WhatsApp bot to fight COVID-19 misinformation

<ul><li><keyword id="9173824" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coronavirus-conspiracies">Coronavirus conspiracies</keyword> are being spread by far-right groups across the world – from blaming 5G technology to targeting Muslim and other minority communities.</li><li>Some of the Coronavirus conspiracy theories also say that this pandemic is a population control tool.</li><li>In India, the Tablighi Jamaat incident has been used by far-right groups to target Muslims using hashtags like #CoronaJihad, using the pandemic to suggest that it is a form of terrorism.</li><li>Other Coronavirus conspiracies in India suggest that hot weather, clove and herbs, and alcohol can help people avoid contracting Covid-19.</li></ul>The Coronavirus pandemic has forced the Indian government to announce a nationwide lockdown since March 24, but it’s not just the deadly disease that we need to worry about. There have been many conspiracy theories, blame games and propaganda around Coronavirus across the world, and it’s no different in India. A recent <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52490430">investigation</a> by the BBC showed that the <keyword id="2681279" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="far-right">far right</keyword> was spreading Covid-19 misinformation on Facebook. Some people are calling the pandemic a population control tool, while others suggest Bill Gates is spreading the virus. 5G has also been blamed as one of the reasons for spreading Coronavirus. This has resulted in several <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/vandals-set-50-cellphone-masts-in-the-uk-on-fire-because-of-a-conspiracy-theory-linking-the-coronavirus-with-5g/articleshow/75158093.cms">5G masts being burnt</a> in the UK. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75224572" title="A US governor accused Trump of encouraging 'domestic rebellion' after his 'LIBERATE' tweets were hailed by far-right extremists" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> It’s no different in India The far right has been using the Covid-19 pandemic to spread conspiracies around the world and it’s no different in India. The Indian right wing has used the pandemic to attack the Muslim minority in the country after the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/nizamuddins-coronavirus-disaster-is-a-scary-example-of-how-the-infection-can-fly-under-the-radar/articleshow/74907602.cms">Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin</a> led to a sudden spurt in the number of confirmed cases. The fact is that there were many other communities across the country who were violating social distancing norms whether it was for <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-defying-lockdown-hundreds-attend-temple-event-in-karnataka-2213195">religious congregation</a>, or a wedding, or political activities. However, the far right and many times even India’s Health Ministry officials highlighted the Tablighi Jamaat event so often that it became commonly believed that they were the cause for the pandemic in India. Most recently, the Chief Minister of BJP-ruled Gujarat, said, “A large number of people attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi and came back to Gujarat. By the time we could track them, they had already come in contact with their friends, family and other people around them. This led to the rise in cases in the city.” The far-right runs with it According to a Time <a href="https://time.com/5815264/coronavirus-india-islamophobia-coronajihad/">report</a>, more than 3,00,000 tweets used the hashtag #CoronaJihad between March 8 and April 3, likely fueled by the breakout at the Tablighi Jamaat event. While the hashtag no longer returns results, a search for the term ‘Corona Jihad’ returns the following tweets from some far-right users: <div type="twitter" handle="AB_BJP" handlename="Arvind Lodha🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1250851801026318337/6iG8ADSQ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="189" retweetcount="187" status="See How PieceFools Obeying The Lockdown and Respecting The Police.This happened in Kalewadi Area Of PCMC near Pune… https://t.co/avBKFJliQP" createdat="1588049683000" id="1254997451133661184"></div> <div type="twitter" handle="im_ro121" handlename="Rohit Chetry (ex- secular)🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1249444592195211264/iM3n2hub_normal.jpg" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" status="@Mohamme43449791 @aslam_zeeahan @imVkohli @TikTok_IN Itni dino seh joh tumlog Corona jihad kar rahe ho woh kam nahi… https://t.co/F5Flwnawn9" createdat="1588619566000" id="1257387712602148866"></div> Some users smelt a coronavirus conspiracy even in the violation of ceasefire in the India-Pakistan border. <div type="twitter" handle="swamymohit" handlename="Mohit Agniveer" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/722764917481304064/kVIxp1F7_normal.jpg" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" status="Ye jo attacks ho rahe hain, wo sajish lag rahe hain kuchh corona infected ko ghusane ki jugaad to nahin hai, corona… https://t.co/LLdcg80Qy5" createdat="1588603842000" id="1257321760631877634"></div> While some others think there is a terror angle behind it. <div type="twitter" handle="iashutosh23" handlename="Ashutosh" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1256500408752562177/1_Dhd4Ue_normal.jpg" favoritecount="71" retweetcount="20" status="As Al Qaeda in a letter Urged Indian Muslims To Unite, Gather Arms And Wage Jihad Against India, Hindus need to rem… https://t.co/e7tRj2SDUb" createdat="1588602344000" id="1257315480479559682"></div> The Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped in with a call against the hate mongering but much damage was done already. <div type="twitter" handle="PMOIndia" handlename="PMO India" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1134090740592627712/0Fp-U5-p_normal.png" favoritecount="80436" retweetcount="15086" status="COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before striking. Our response and… https://t.co/W85rXGQrA8" createdat="1587296723000" id="1251839308085915649"></div> The attempts to pin the blame on one community for the spread of COVID-19 in India is only one of the many waves of misinformation to flood WhatsApp groups. AIIMS director Dr. Randeep Guleria had to issue a <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/non-veg-food-hot-weather-aiims-director-bursts-biggest-myths-about-coronavirus/articleshow/74634404.cms?from=mdr">clarification</a> to bust these myths. He also said that hot weather, clove and other herbs, and alcohol cannot prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Most recently, IFCN <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/how-to-use-ifcns-whatsapp-fact-checker-to-fight-coronavirus-misinformation/articleshow/75546862.cms">added</a> a WhatsApp chatbot that can help users fact check news about Coronavirus. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/nearly-a-third-of-americans-believe-in-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-science-explains-why-people-tend-to-believe-them-more-in-times-of-crisis-/articleshow/75381207.cms">Nearly a third of Americans believe in coronavirus conspiracy theories. Science explains why people tend to believe them more in times of crisis</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/anti-quarantine-protesters-are-being-kicked-off-facebook-and-quickly-finding-refuge-on-a-site-loved-by-conspiracy-theorists/articleshow/75520558.cms">Anti-quarantine protesters are being kicked off Facebook and quickly finding refuge on a site loved by conspiracy theorists</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/a-bizarre-conspiracy-theory-puts-bill-gates-at-the-center-of-the-coronavirus-crisis-x2014-and-major-conservative-pundits-are-circulating-it/slidelist/75240482.cms">A bizarre conspiracy theory puts Bill Gates at the center of the Coronavirus crisis — and major conservative pundits are circulating it</a>

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