WhatsApp has launched 'Checkpoint Tipline' with media startup Proto to receive and verify suspicious information and rumours on WhatsApp during the elections, set to begin in a week. Users can send rumours to the number (+91-9643-000-888) which Proto will classify as true, false, misleading, disputed or out of scope or any other related information. Proto will review rumors containing pictures, video links, or text and will cover four regional languages including Hindi, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam, other than English. Proto said the project was meant to create a database of rumours to study misinformation during the elections for WhatsApp's research project Checkpoint. "As more data flows in, it will identify the most susceptible or affected issues, locations, languages, regions, and more, said the company's founders. Proto will submit the tipline's findings to the the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) to help others learn from the project. Proto has roped in media organizations Dig Deeper Media and Meedan - who have worked in misinformation-related projects in other countries - to develop the verification and research framework. Meedan will work on verification of the rumors and maintain a database of the rumors via their 'Check' platform, which it has integrated with the WhatsApp Business API to receive and respond to messages at scale. The Check platform was developed for Mexican elections last year and French elections in 2017. Reuters reported that it forwarded a message containing misinformation to WhatsApp, but was awaiting response over two hours later. WhatsApp has teamed up with Nasscom Foundation…
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