WhatsApp to use 'Verificado' model to kill fake news ahead of 2019 General Elections

The Election Commission and online messaging application WhatsApp are joining hands to tackle the issue of fake news ahead of the upcoming 2019 general elections in India, as per media reports.

WhatsApp will verify the fake messages that are being circulated ahead of the polls, especially 48 hours ahead of the polling, a leading media house reported.

The election campaigning stops 48 hours before the voting begins.

WhatsApp will use the ‘Verificado’ model, earlier used during 2018 elections in Mexico to verify the authenticity of the news or messages.

The election was mauled by trolls, fake accounts, and fake news to shake the electoral vote. In the ‘Verificado’ model, Krzna, an Al-powered search tool was used to scan posts, as reported by the BBC.

WhatsApp has reportedly made it clear to the Election Commission that it will make sure that the messages will be end-to-end encrypted and protect the privacy of the users.

The online messaging application was recently under the public scanner after fake news led to a number of mob lynching in India.

Earlier on 1 July, five people were killed by a mob after reading forwarded messages which claimed that those five people were kidnappers.