Meta launches WhatsApp helpline to tackle fake news in India, update app to improve business features
Meta's WhatsApp has announced a collaboration with the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA) to take on the sharp rise of fake news and deepfakes in India, especially as the country moves closer to its election dates.
Last week, Meta said that it will launch a dedicated fact-checking helpline on WhatsApp next month “to combat media generated misinformation using artificial intelligence which may deceive people on matters of public importance, commonly known as deepfakes, and help people connect with verified and credible information.”
Commenting on the launch, Shivnath Thukral, Director of Public Policy India, Meta said, “We recognize the concerns around AI-generated misinformation and believe combatting this requires concrete and cooperative measures across the industry.”
Thukral added, “The Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) will serve as a critical and timely intervention to arrest the spread of AI-enabled disinformation among social media and internet users in India.”
Meta is not the only company that is having to step up its efforts in countering fake news in India. In December 2023, Youtube India also shifted its focus on delivering reliable news by trusted sources.
Recently, WhatsApp India rolled out several new features to improve the WhatsApp business experience. According to Techwire Asia, “WhatsApp for Business has 50 million customers and around one-third of them (15 million) are Indian businesses.” Furthermore, WhatsApp has been and remains a popular chat app in India and despite some controversies regarding the app's features, most Indian companies and consumers still prefer the app to any of the competitors that have arisen in the last few years.
WhatsApp is developing a public channel directory to help business users discover relevant channels based on categories and interests. This will make it easier for businesses to reach their target audience organically.
With over 500 million WhatsApp Business App users globally, the platform continues to rapidly evolve as
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