WhatsApp is aiming to tackle the spread of misinformation by adding a new reverse search feature
The messaging app is trialling a new feature to help users fact-check viral messages spread through the app via forwarding.
If a message has been forwarded more than five times, a magnifying glass icon will appear next to the message when it lands in your inbox.
Tapping that icon will search the message’s contents through Google, which the app hopes will lay bare any popular conspiracy theories or misinformation.
WhatsApp released an image demonstrating how the function would work, highlighting a forwarded conspiracy theory concerning garlic water’s ability to cure coronavirus – which is to say ‘garlic water’s total lack of ability to cure coronavirus.’
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, which means that the company can’t see your messages, meaning it is unable to directly fact check any potentially misleading messages.
Because of this, it has had to outsource the fact checking to Google, hoping that users will have the wherewithal to investigate it themselves.
In a blog post, WhatsApp said of the new service: “Today, we’re piloting a simple way to double check these messages by tapping a magnifying glass button in the chat.
“Providing a simple way to search messages that have been forwarded many times may help people find news results or other sources of information about content they have received.
“This feature works by allowing users to upload the message via their browser without WhatsApp ever seeing the message itself.”
The search function will be rolled out from today in Brazil, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, UK, and US for those on the latest versions of WhatsApp for Android, iOS and WhatsApp Web.
