Truecaller messaging platform lets users report fake news

New Delhi: Stockholm-based Truecaller, owned by True Software Scandinavia AB, on Wednesday launched its instant messaging platform, Truecaller Chat, aimed at making communication safer by enabling users to report links to ensure that fake news is not circulated unchecked by users.

Users will be able to mark website links as spam if they suspect them to contain incorrect information. Truecaller also plans to apply machine learning and use the aggregated spam reports to predict any upcoming viral trends.

Additionally, ‘Truecaller Chat’ is bundled with interesting features such as, auto-switch between SMS and Chat, which will help users keep conversations in one place. Other features include full media support, the company said in a statement.

“As a one-stop communication platform, our instant messaging service will help our users connect and also collaborate to combat the issue of spam. We’re confident that this foundation stone will help build a strong spam-free community,” Rishit Jhunjhunwala, vice-president, product, Truecaller, told Mint.

This comes against the backdrop of a spate of murders in the country over the last several month, all connected to fake messages on social media. Such incidents have been reported from Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tripura and West Bengal.

Truecaller has helped erode spam calls faced by users through Caller ID and also strengthened SMS inboxes by filtering unwanted messages. As a step to curb the spread of erroneous information, Truecaller, with help from its community, has launched this service as a shield against viral messages sent on its instant messaging platform, it added.