BBC’s ‘reality check’ will counter fake poll news

new delhi — Fake news is used as a political tool to manipulate populations in countries where elections are due. This is happening in India as well, says Jamie Angus, Director of BBC World Service Group.

Several people have lost their lives in the past one year by lynch mobs after rumours of child lifting triggered via messages on WhatsApp. The incidents elicited global outrage, making Whatsapp take strict action to curb it.

BBC News has also come out with special Indian coverage, putting forward its own solutions to the country’s building fake news crisis.

With India’s elections coming up, Angus feels “it is vital people have access to news they can trust”.

“During the 2019 election campaign, we have pledged to provide a daily election BBC Reality Check service to India, debunking fake news as it happens and explain issues at the centre of the debates... BBC News is making even greater efforts to explain what type of information you are reading or watching, who and where the information is coming from and how a story was crafted the way it was.”

“If news consumers become educated in how to spot the signs of fakery, in how to cross-reference news sources and read the news items they get forwarded on WhatsApp with a critical eye, I believe we could significantly limit the reach of fake stories. —