The Communications Ministry, in partnership with Meta, is nearing the completion of a WhatsApp chatbot feature aimed at combating the spread of fake news and defamatory content. Its minister, Fahmi Fadzil, revealed that the feature is slated to launch by the end of May, and will empower users to authenticate information shared within the app.
The decision to introduce the WhatsApp chatbot stems from the proliferation of misinformation through WhatsApp, prompting the integration of an in-app solution. Users will be able to interact with the feature to verify message authenticity, with response times expected within one or two minutes. By utilising reports from the JomCheck group, comprising various NGOs including MyCheck from Bernama, the chatbot aims to uphold rigorous standards in verification.
Having personally tested the feature, Fahmi expressed satisfaction with its performance, although final technical adjustments with Meta are pending. He emphasised its multilingual capabilities, assuring support for languages such as Malay, English, Chinese, and Tamil.
However, he clarified that the current iteration of the chatbot is text-based, therefore lacking the ability to verify documents, videos, or images. Fahmi expressed hope for future enhancements in this regard.
(Source: Bernama)
