As per a report, at least 31 people have lost their lives between 2017-18. With more than a billion active mobile phone users, proliferation of smartphones and cheap data packages, the problem is only getting worst as rumours spread at a faster speed. People are already dying. The question here is, what worst can we expect?
With deaths and murders involved, we are getting pretty serious and taking all the measures possible to curb fake news. (Tip: Read our article on How To Spot Fake News)
Step 1: Defining fake news
The word ‘Fake News’ started popping up in conversations after it became the ‘Word of the Year’ in 2017, when Trump began shouting out that word and the news shows debates started flashing the photoshopped Whatsapp forwards. Although fake news always existed, the word gained popularity in India only a few years back. Owing to it’s sudden spread in India, fake news was like a broad umbrella with many meanings and concepts attached to it. According to Pankaj Jain, an active fake news slayer, fake news can be a bit of misleading term. It can mean many things- a mistake, an intentional twisting a news story, fabricating information, news sowing confusion etc.
Thus in this confused environment, if we want to discourage and condemn the spread of misinformation, we first need to define it. Responding to this need, the Press Council of India in 2018 published a definition of fake news. The chairman of PCI, Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, titled as “Response of Chairman on Fake News” which outlined the definition of fake news.
Along with the definition, the report also stated that accreditation of journalists could also be suspended in they are found disseminating fake news, but only in gross cases of fake news.
Step 2: Regulating the social media giants
If you’re an active Whatsapp user you might have noticed a new feature while using the app. If you receive a forwarded message, it is labeled as ‘Forwarded’. This indicates the message has been forwarded to someone from another user and not composed by the sender. Well, this move comes after immense pressure from the Indian government to the messaging app to take immediate action to curb fake news. In July 2018, the Indian Government warned Whatsapp to take immediate and urgent action to stop the spread of “irresponsible and explosive messages filled with rumours and provocation”
The app is also working on a Suspicious Link Detention feature to curb the spread of spam messages, which they are currently testing on their beta version of the app. The feature will automatically detect and identify suspicious links which will redirect the users to fake news websites. And accordingly, will alert the user with a marked red label.
As Whatsapp groups are where the major problem lies, the app is giving more control to the group admins with the Whatsapp ‘Send Message’ feature. So now, the group admin can decide whether all the participants or only the admin can send messages on the group. This is essentially useful for large groups which are mainly fr broadcasting information. This reduces the chances of circulation of fake news as only those who can be replied upon will be given the control to send messages. The app also announced a grant of $50,000 for social scientists and research groups to propose projects to understand the fake news problem.
Step 3: Involving those whom we trust
Sure, the government does it’s bit by issuing warning, notifications and public announcements. But, do we actually pay close attention to those? Umm…not really! But, if your dad or your office colleague brings it up in a discussion you’ll probably think about it. Thankfully, the UP Police understood this psychology which they are using to curb fake news. Uttar Pradesh has been in the headlines for mob lynching and violence taking place over fake news and messages. To minimize these, the UP Police will be deploying ‘Digital Armies’ or volunteers who will keep a strict check on inflammatory posts and rumor-mongers. All the 1469 police stations in the state will shortlist 250 people from different 