OTT player, WhatsApp has said that it has collaborated with NASSCOM Foundation, the social wing of NASSCOM to provide training related to digital literacy to keep a check on misinformation.
As per WhatsApp, the partnership will train 100,000 Indian citizens to identify fake news and measures to stay safe on the online messenger. The company further said that the curriculum prepared for the training encourages users to be thoughtful about the rumours.
The training will incorporate anecdotes and tools which can be used to validate a forward message as well as appropriate measures which a user can undertake like reporting an objectionable content.
The first session of the training will be held on March 27 in Delhi which will be followed by a training workshop for participants and roadshows in colleges.
“The use of technology platforms like WhatsApp are inherently meant to foster social good, harmony, and collaboration, but are sadly being used by a small number of miscreants to entice anger and hatred by spreading false and doctored information. Through this partnership with WhatsApp, we hope to enable all of India’s connected citizens to identify a piece of probable fake information while also sensitizing them on the possible impact of its further amplification,” said Ashok Pamidi, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation.
“We are excited to expand our partnerships with civil society to advance crucial digital literacy skills that can help combat misinformation share on WhatsApp. This training educates people throughout India to be mindful of the messages they receive and to verify the facts before forwarding,’’ said Abhijit Bose, head of India, WhatsApp.
