The joint efforts of the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA) and Meta were unveiled on Monday, marking a significant step in the fight against AI-generated deepfakes. Their collaboration introduces a pioneering fact-checking helpline on WhatsApp, set to launch in March this year, empowering users to flag deepfakes through a dedicated chatbot.
This innovative helpline, designed to combat the proliferation of misleading content, will provide multilingual support in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, catering to diverse communities. Shivnath Thukral, director of Public Policy India at Meta, emphasized the necessity of collective action within the industry to address the threat posed by AI-generated misinformation.
The initiative aligns with Meta’s commitment under the Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in the upcoming 2024 Elections, reinforcing the company’s dedication to safeguarding the integrity of digital discourse. Notably, this collaboration follows a recent accord signed by 20 leading tech companies worldwide, signaling a concerted effort to tackle AI misinformation proactively.
In response to growing concerns, Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, advocated for watermarking and labeling as essential strategies to counter deepfakes. Despite acknowledging these measures as foundational, challenges persist, prompting the Indian government to propose stringent amendments to IT rules, 2021.
As part of the partnership, MCA will establish a centralized ‘deepfake analysis unit,’ bolstering efforts to scrutinize content flagged through the WhatsApp helpline. Working in tandem with member fact-checking organizations, industry partners, and digital labs, the initiative aims to verify content authenticity and debunk false claims effectively.
Bharat Gupta, president of Misinformation Combat Alliance, underscored the significance of the Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) as a pivotal intervention to combat AI-enabled disinformation. By leveraging the expertise of International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) signatories, journalists, and forensic experts, the program seeks to mitigate the spread of deepfakes across social media platforms and the internet.
Emphasizing a comprehensive approach, the initiative will focus on detection, prevention, reporting, and awareness to curb the dissemination of deepfakes. Meta’s recent announcement of an ‘AI labeling policy’ further demonstrates its commitment to collaborative efforts, aiming to establish common technical standards for identifying AI-generated content.
With its expansive social media ecosystem encompassing WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, Meta remains at the forefront of combating misinformation. Building on previous initiatives such as the fact-checking program introduced in India in 2022, Meta continues to drive industry-wide efforts to uphold the integrity of online information.
