With the 2024 General Elections on the horizon, Google is rolling out the ‘Shakti, India Election Fact-Checking Collective’. This collaboration brings together news publishers and fact-checkers from all over India to fight the spread of false information, especially deepfakes.
Led by DataLEADS, in partnership with the Misinformation Combat Alliance and other fact-checkers, and backed by the Google News Initiative (GNI), this nationwide project aims to create a strong network for sharing fact checks, research materials, and warnings about misinformation related to the elections.
Through this initiative, independent fact-checkers and Indian language publishers will team up to share accurate information, including videos, making it easier for people to access reliable news during the election frenzy.
Syed Nazakat
Founder and CEO of DataLEADS, stressed the importance of this initiative in ensuring fair and transparent democratic processes during elections.
Moreover, the project will provide crucial training to news organizations and fact-checkers on advanced fact-checking methods and spotting deepfakes, using tools like Fact Check Explorer to simplify the verification process.
Google is committed to expanding the Fact-Checking Collective by bringing in more partners and reaching more regions across India.
Bharat Gupta
President of the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA) and CEO of Jagran New Media emphasized the importance of giving people accurate information at the grassroots level, empowering them to make informed decisions during elections and beyond.
Google also highlighted its previous efforts in training journalists, educators, and students in various languages since 2018, along with initiatives like Poll Check, Data Accelerator, and Data Dialogue. Additionally, it mentioned the introduction of the “About this image” fact-check tool to help users easily verify the credibility of images online.
To further support fact-checking organizations worldwide, including those in India, Google and YouTube launched the $13.2 million Global Fact Check Fund, aimed at improving the capabilities of local media in producing top-quality fact-checking content.
In summary, Google’s partnership with news outlets and fact-checkers shows a united effort to combat deepfakes and misinformation before the 2024 General Elections. This underscores the importance of reliable information in upholding democratic values.
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