WhatsApp is often use for circulating fake news and misinformation. WhatsApp is claiming to have implement a list of features to restrict fake news circulation, WhatsApp users get misleading messages containing unverified information on a regular basis.
It becomes important to know how you can verify the information you get on WhatsApp.
It is also relevant especially in today’s time when state legislative assembly elections are going on and Ukraine is facing a deadly crisis due to Russia’s invasion.
As many as 10 fact-checking organisations in India have their tiplines available on WhatsApp to let users verify the information they receive.
These tiplines are verified by International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) and can be use for verifying potentially misleading content including photos, videos, and voice recordings.
Most of them also support English and up to 11 Indian languages, including Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, and Punjabi, among others.
List of Fact-Checking Tiplines on WhatsApp in India
- AFP: +91 95999 73984
- Boom: +91 77009-06111 / +91 77009-06588
- Fact Crescendo: +91 90490 53770
- Factly: +91 92470 52470
- India Today: +91 7370-007000
- Newschecker: +91 99994 99044
- Newsmobile: +91 11 7127 9799
- Quint WebQoof: +91 96436 51818
- The Healthy Indian Project: +91 85078 85079
- Vishvas News: +91 92052 70923 / +91 95992 99372
- 2YoDoINDIA News & Media: +91 8004463445
In addition to the above tiplines, IFCN has its dedicated WhatsApp chatbot that helps users verify their information.
It is claim to connect users to independent fact-checkers in more than 70 countries around the globe.
How to Use Fact-Checking Tiplines on WhatsApp?
Users need to save the numbers of the given fact-checking tiplines in their contacts or click on their links and then send them “Hi” on WhatsApp to get their information validated.
Most of the above fact-checking tiplines also give access to their latest fact-check content when reaching them out on the messaging app.
It is important to note that since the tiplines are essentially chatbots, they take some time to verify the information you feed.
What do Different Fact-Checking Tiplines in India offer on WhatsApp?
The purpose of the fact-checking tiplines on WhatsApp is to help users verify potentially misleading information they have receive in the form of photos and videos as well as voice and text messages.
AFP
The AFP Fact Check tipline is design to fact-check text messages, videos, and photographs.
AFP supports both English and Hindi languages and can be use to subscribe to AFP’s newsletter and read Ukraine conflict-specific fact checks.
Boom
The Boom FactCheck tipline supports English and Hindi languages.
Boom also works with Bengali.
Users have provide with the options to verify the photos, videos, audio, and the text they have.
Boom also gives access to subscribe to the Boom Newsletter and read the latest fact-checking stories from Boomlive.
Fact Crescendo
The Fact Crescendo supports nine languages in total, including Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Odia, and Tamil.
Fact Crescendo also lets users share their information in the form of text, photo, and video.
In addition to verifying information from users, Fact Crescendo offers access to its fact-checking content and the latest updates pertaining to the COVID-19 spread.
Factly
Factly Fact Check allows users to submit their request for a fact-check about an article, video, and other content.
You can also subscribe to Factly’s newsletter for a daily dose of fact-checking content or get the latest fact-checks from the website.
Factly doesn’t support local languages and can only work in English.
India Today
The India Today Group Fact Check lets users submit their information as a message, photo, or video.
India Today also gives latest updates to the Russia-Ukraine war, UP Elections, and lets users subscribe to the India Today Fact-Check Newsletter.
The India Today tipline also supports Hindi in addition to English.
Newschecker
The Newschecker works with a listing of nine languages in total, including English, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, and Urdu.
Newschecker lets you share their suspicious messages, photos, and videos, as well as subscribe to the daily newsletters by the website.
Newsmobile
The Newsmobile lets users search for fact checks and look at the latest fact-checks.
Newschecker also provides tips to fight misinformation.
Quint WebQoof
The Quint WebQoof supports both English and Hindi languages.
Quint WebQoof also lets users subscribe to the WebQoof newsletter.
The Healthy Indian Project
The Healthy Indian Project is specifically to verify health information and facts.
As The Healthy Indian Project also gives access to subscribe to daily updates about health.
Vishvas News
The Vishvas News Fact Check tipline is design to inform users about its latest fact checks and gives access to verify suspicious messages, photos, and videos.
Vishvas News works in English and Hindi and gives access to the Vishvas News Newsletter.
2YoDoINDIA News & Media
The 2YoDoINDIA News & Media gives latest updates to the Russia-Ukraine war, UP Elections.
2YoDoINDIA News & Media gives health information and facts.
The 2YoDoINDIA News & Media supports both English and Hindi languages.
2YoDoINDIA News & Media also supports more the 50 languages including Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Odia, and Tamil.
It is likely that the fact-checkers may take some time to respond to users due to the number of queries they get.
