Google has introduced a brand new initiative geared toward addressing the unfold of misinformation in India, which has been blamed for the rise of violence within the nation. 

The newest initiative from Google’s subsidiary, Jigsaw, will use a “prebunking” video characteristic in an effort to cease false claims earlier than they turn out to be extra widespread, according to Reuters. 

Jigsaw can also be working with companions such because the German-based pro-democracy group Alfred Landecker Foundation and philanthropic funding agency Omidya Network to supply 5 movies in three totally different languages for viewers.

Viewers can be then requested to fill out a brief questionnaire designed to see what they discovered about misinformation after watching these movies. 

In an interview, Jigsaw’s head of analysis and growth Beth Goldman informed Reuters that the initiative presents “ an opportunity to research prebunking in a non-western, global south market.” 

“The Indian initiative will focus on issues that resonate in the country, Goldman told Reuters. “By forewarning individuals and equipping them to spot and refute misleading arguments, they gain resilience to being misled in the future.”

The unfold of misinformation on social media platforms has led to a rise in political and non secular tensions in India, leading to its Ministry of Information and Broadcasting blocking some YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook accounts that allegedly unfold dangerous misinformation. 

Meta Platforms Inc. in 2018 curbed the variety of instances a message may very well be forwarded on its messaging platform, Whatsapp, after false claims of kid abductors unfold on the platform led to greater than a dozen folks being victims of mass beatings throughout the nation, leading to some deaths, Reuters famous. 

The Hill has reached out to Google for touch upon this story.