Meta, the owner of Facebook and Whatsapp, has launched a safety campaign ‘Know What’s Real’ to tackle the problem of online misinformation. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of distinguishing between truth and falsehood in the digital age. Mehta’s campaign comes at a time when threats such as deepfakes and misinformation are a serious concern for governments and citizens around the world, especially in an election year.
Meta is also part of several of the world’s largest technology companies committed to preventing deceptive AI content from disrupting this year’s global elections.
The Technology Agreement to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in Elections 2024 is a set of commitments to deploy technology to counter harmful AI-generated content aimed at deceiving voters. The signatories, including Meta, will cooperate in developing tools to detect and address the online distribution of such AI content, promote educational campaigns, and provide transparency, among other concrete measures. pledge.
The eight-week ‘Know What’s Real’ initiative aims to educate users on how to identify and address misinformation being spread on WhatsApp and Instagram. Meta wants to help its user base navigate the complexities of online information by promoting digital best practices and showcasing the safety tools available.
Key features of the campaign include highlighting the safety measures built into WhatsApp, such as the ability to block and report suspicious content, and forwarding to help users identify potentially misleading information. Includes the introduction of labels. The initiative also encourages individuals to verify questionable or inaccurate content through trusted fact-checking organizations accessible via WhatsApp channels.
On Instagram, Meta partnered with a network of fact checkers to verify the authenticity of information circulating on the platform.
Meta said it has adopted warning labels for content deemed false, including deepfakes, to alert users to its lack of accuracy. Additionally, meta reduces the potential impact on a broader audience by limiting the reach of content labeled as “false” by fact checkers.
As part of the campaign, Meta is highlighting the importance of responsible content sharing practices. Users are encouraged to refrain from transmitting or distributing inauthentic content and to report such instances to designated complaint handlers or independent fact-checking partners for verification.
The company said its fact-checking program in India includes partnerships with 11 independent fact-checking organizations, one of the world’s largest fact-checking partner networks. These partners have the ability to fact-check content in 15 Indian languages and English, helping people identify, review and verify information, and prevent the spread of misinformation on Metaplatform. He added that he could.
Commenting on the program, Mehta’s India Public Policy Director Shivnath Thukral said the company is fully committed to combating misinformation online. “We have invested in industry-leading programs, including building a robust network of independent fact-checkers who debunk false claims and help the public access trusted information. This also includes working with the Combat Misinformation Alliance (MCA) to launch a WhatsApp tip line to curb AI” – misinformation generated. ”
Recently, Meta also announced a dedicated fact-checking helpline on WhatsApp as part of the company’s efforts to combat AI-generated content that exists online and help people connect to verified and trustworthy information. .
Thukral said the ‘Truth to Know’ campaign is “an extension of our ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation, and is an extension of our ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation, with simple safety measures to educate people about the role they can play in combating misinformation. It acts as a guide,” he added.
