Facebook's fact-checking programme to support two more Indian languages

The latest move to add more local languages to the fact-checking programme is aimed at verifying the accuracy of stories and preventing the spread of hoaxes.

Facebook has expanded its fact-checking programme to two more Indian languages, sources were quoted as saying by the ETtech, taking another step to curb the spread of misinformation in its biggest market by users.

With the addition of Urdu and Punjabi, the social media giant will be reportedly doing fact checking in ten languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi, Tamil and Gujarati. The latest move to add more local languages to the fact-checking programme is aimed at verifying the accuracy of stories and preventing the spread of hoaxes.

How fact-checking works?

• Facebook uses technology like machine learning and other tactics to identify potentially false stories reported on its platform.
• Independent third-party fact-checkers review the stories, rate their accuracy and write an article explaining the facts behind their rating
• If a story is rated false, its distribution is reduced in the News Feed
• If a Facebook Page or website repeatedly shares misinformation, then the overall distribution of the Page or website is reduced

Image Credit: Pixabay

India is Facebook's largest market by users, and its WhatsApp messaging service has more than 200 million users in the country. Aside from concerns over misuse of social media for political purposes, there has also been criticism over the spread of false, incendiary messages that have fanned communal tensions and sparked mob violence. Last year, after a series of lynchings, were incited by messages sent on its service, WhatsApp reduced the number of people or groups that a message could be forwarded to at one time, cutting it to five from 20 previously.

Both organisations have taken a number of steps, including sensitisation programmes among users across the country. Facebook ramped up an effort on fact-checking after being accused of disseminating misinformation during the 2016 US election.