Alleged Journalism
On the frontline of India’s WhatsApp fake news war
In a state-run secondary school in the sticky coastal city of Kannur in the southern state of Kerala, some 40 students have thronged a classroom for an unusual lesson.
Mobs have lynched at least 25 people across India after reading false rumours spread on WhatsApp. Now the authorities in one Indian state are fighting back – by teaching children about fake news. Soutik Biswas reports.
In a state-run secondary school in the sticky coastal city of Kannur in the southern state of Kerala, some 40 students have thronged a classroom for an unusual lesson.
As the uniformed boys and girls in separate rows slide into their seats, there’s a question on the projection screen for them to answer: What is fake news?
Students read the answer aloud from another slide.
“Fake news is completely false information, photos or videos, intentionally created and spread, to confuse the public, spread mass panic, provoke violence and get attention.”
For a moment, it sounds similar to a rote-memorisation drill, common in rigid Indian schools.
But teacher Bindhya M, a post-graduate in computer science, quickly joins in and gets down to brass tacks.
“If you get a message on WhatsApp saying there will be an earthquake in Kannur tomorrow, would you believe it and share it with your friends?”
“Yes,” chime the students, weakly.