News Analysis India

Tag: MCA

  • Misinformation Combat Alliance To Launch WhatsApp Tipline On Mar 25 To Combat Deepfakes |

    New Delhi: Ahead of general elections, the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA) is launching a Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) tipline on March 25 to help detect and respond to AI-generated synthetic media, a release said on Thursday.

    The move assumes significance as the countdown to elections in India has seen the industry scale up election integrity efforts, particularly to crack down on deepfakes and AI (Artificial Intelligence) deceptions. The general elections are scheduled to be held in seven phases starting from April 19, and results will be declared on June 4. (Also Read: Vivo T3 5G With Triple Camera Setup Launched In India; Check Specs, Price And Launch Offers)

    “MCA’s Deepfakes Analysis Unit launches WhatsApp tipline in collaboration with Meta to detect deepfakes,” the release said. With the latest initiative, any member of the public can forward audio notes and videos to +91 9999025044 on WhatsApp to get assessments on whether a piece of media is AI-generated or contains elements of it, the release said. (Also Read: OnePlus 12R New Storage Variant Launched In India; Check Price, Bank Offers And Availability)

    The tipline will offer support in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, the release said. The launch of the WhatsApp tipline is in line with Meta’s efforts to collaborate with industry stakeholders in the fact-checking ecosystem to build instruments that help curb the spread of AI-generated misinformation.

    The MCA is a cross-industry alliance that brings together companies, organisations, institutions, industry associations and entities to collectively fight misinformation and its impact. Currently, MCA has 16 members, including fact-checking organisations, media outlets, and civic tech organisations, and is inviting strategic partners to collaborate on this industry-wide initiative to combat misinformation.

    The DAU has been set up with the aim of providing the public with a trusted resource that will help them differentiate between real and synthetic media. The initiative will tap into expertise from a network of partners – academicians, researchers, startups, tech platforms, and fact-checkers – to verify and assess the media content submitted to the tipline.

    The assessment reports will be sent back to users in response to their messages. The reports will also be available on the DAU website and DAU’s recently launched WhatsApp Channel which will serve as an authoritative source for people to receive verified and accurate information, according to the release. DAU’s partners include member fact-checking organisations as well as industry partners and digital labs that will help assess and verify the content.

  • Former India pacer Salil Ankola named Mumbai chief selector

    Twenty-three years after his last association with the game in an official capacity, former India pacer Salil Ankola has been appointed chairman of the senior selection committee by the Mumbai Cricket Association. Former left-arm spinner Sanjay Patil, Ravindra Thaker, Zulfiqar Parkar and Ravi Kulkarni have will be the other selectors.

    Ankola had applied for the role of Mumbai coach, apart from the selectorial job, and the Lalchand Rajput-led Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) felt he will suit the role of selector for now. Ankola played one Test and 20 ODIs in the 1990s before switching to a career in television and films.

    “I had given them (MCA) options. I wanted to be coach or selector. I just wanted to get myself involved. I just wanted to be part of the game and help the boys. I had earned enough money, now it’s about satisfaction of my soul. I have been seeing that our team is not doing well for the last few years and the least I can do is to try and bring Mumbai back to its former glory,” Ankola told The Indian Express.