ITV

Tag: WhatsApp

  • MCA’s WhatsApp tipline trusted to combat AI-generated misinformation

    MCA’s WhatsApp tipline trusted to combat AI-generated misinformation

    Mumbai: The Misinformation Combat Alliance’s (MCA) Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) Tipline on WhatsApp has emerged as a trusted resource for raising public awareness and a critical instrument in helping combat the spread of AI-generated misinformation. The WhatsApp tipline became available for public use on 25 March 2024 and has received hundreds of messages, successfully assisting people to discern between real and synthetic media.

    Users can flag AI-manipulated content in the form of audio notes and videos by sending it to the WhatsApp tipline and will receive assessments on whether a piece of media is AI-generated or contains elements of it. The tipline offers multilingual support in English and three regional languages (Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu).

    With millions of Indians using WhatsApp, the collaboration between Meta and MCA represents a continued effort to empower users with tools to verify information on its service, especially to curb the spread of AI-generated misinformation.  

    In the short span of the DAU tipline being operational, the team has reviewed challenging content manipulated using AI technology. It has seen noticeable trends emerge that can help educate the public on spotting deepfakes, empowering them to debunk false claims and prevent the spread of such misinformation.

    Analyzing the trends based on the messages received on the DAU tipline, the bulk of the content has been in the form of videos.

    ●    In most cases where AI is used to manipulate videos, the original audio tracks have been replaced with AI-generated audio. There are multiple examples of this kind of audio tampering in videos featuring actors, businessmen, politicians, and even TV anchors.

    ●    Memes of politicians and their likenesses created using A.I. have sometimes involved face-blending techniques or cheaper techniques lacking sophistication.

    ●    In a few videos analysed, the team was able to assess that the mouth of a subject had been recreated using generative A.I. so that their lip movements could synchronise with their words to produce what is called a lip sync deepfake.  

    DAU head Pamposh Raina said, “The strength of the DAU lies in the collaborative model which it is building by partnering with detection and forensic experts, which in turn is helping DAU’s fact-checking partners who are an integral part of this project. At the end of the day, our goal is to drive public awareness on the issue of algorithm-based fabrication and I am confident that this kind of a symbiotic model can be replicated across the globe to combat misinformation spread through audio and video content produced using generative AI.”

    Next time you’re not sure if something is a deepfake, send it to the DAU tipline on WhatsApp.

    1.    Start a chat with the DAU on WhatsApp by forwarding audio notes or videos you want to verify to +91 9999025044.

    2.    In response to your message, you will receive an assessment report on whether a piece of media is AI-generated or contains elements of it.

    3.    Follow DAU’s WhatsApp Channel where you can receive assessments of verified content in real-time (https://bit.ly/dauwachannel).

    MCA is a cross-industry alliance bringing companies, organizations, institutions, industry associations and entities together to collectively fight misinformation and its impact. Currently, MCA has 16 members including fact-checking organizations, media outlets, and civic tech and are inviting strategic partners to collaborate in this industry-wide initiative to combat misinformation and create an enlightened and informed society. Seven detection and forensics partners are lending their expertise and knowledge to support the Deepfakes Analysis Unit.    

  • WhatsApp launches new race car emoji with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team

    WhatsApp launches new race car emoji with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team

    Mumbai: WhatsApp is lighting up the Empire State Building green and launching a new race car emoji to celebrate its rapid growth in the United States, announcing double-digit growth in both daily users and messages sent on WhatsApp in the U.S.

    Today, WhatsApp released the new custom race car emoji that over two billion users will be able to use immediately in their chats, just in time for the Miami Grand Prix this coming weekend. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, and CEO and team principal Toto Wolff, together flipped the Empire State Building’s famous light switch and turned the building’s iconic tower lights a bright WhatsApp green. The lighting was followed by a dynamic light show takeover of the building’s façade, which featured an animated projection of the new emoji racing through New York City.

    The celebration continues tomorrow, when WhatsApp and Mercedes-AMG F1 will bring the emoji to life as it shuts down Fifth Avenue for the first-ever demonstration of a Formula One car in Manhattan. Hamilton will be at the wheel of the speed demo, taking place alongside a life-sized replica of the emoji race car.

    Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp said: “Year after year WhatsApp is gaining solid ground in the U.S. because people want a private and secure way to communicate across platforms. WhatsApp is not only the best way to chat about a race with friends around the world, but also within the U.S. too, and we’re excited to celebrate this growth together with Mercedes and the Empire State Building.

    Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team CEO and team principal Toto Wolff said: “In recent years, our sport and WhatsApp have both been on an impressive growth journey in the United States. The partnership between ourselves as a team and WhatsApp, our official messaging partner, is therefore a natural fit. We rely daily on WhatsApp for the privacy and security it affords in our communications, which is vital in F1.

    “We are also both passionate about connecting people through shared experiences, committed to telling incredible stories, and setting the benchmark in our respective fields. As we prepare for the first stateside Grand Prix this year, it is fantastic to celebrate our collaboration with several iconic moments and activations in New York City that are certain to get people talking.”

    Lewis Hamilton said: “I’ve always felt a special connection with the United States. I remember going to

    New York as a kid and dreaming about living in the city and I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time here since then. I’ve had many incredible experiences and connected with many amazing people in New York, but to drive an F1 car down Fifth Avenue and light up the Empire State Building is incredibly special. It’s something I never thought would be possible and it’s been even better to do it in partnership with WhatsApp, an app that keeps my connection to the US alive by making it easy to stay in touch with so many people stateside.”

    WhatsApp has become the leading choice for private cross-platform communication in the U.S.. No matter what phone you or your friends have, you can always share HD photos and videos, react in realtime in group chats that aren’t broken by blue-bubble/green-bubble, make voice and video calls to each other, all with the privacy and security of end-to-end-encryption. And now, you even access Meta’s most advanced AI from right within WhatsApp. Coinciding with the massive and growing popularity of Formula 1 in the United States, WhatsApp late last year announced a partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. As the official messaging partner for the team, WhatsApp is committed to bringing fans even closer to the sport.

  • Celebrating Women’s Day with WhatsApp’s privacy superpowers

    Celebrating Women’s Day with WhatsApp’s privacy superpowers

    Mumbai: International Women’s Day is around the corner and WhatsApp believes everyone should have a safe space to communicate with their family and friends. Over the years, they have launched numerous innovative features that ensure your privacy is protected at all times and people feel empowered to take control of their online safety.  

    Here’s a list of five privacy features that help build a private and safe messaging experience for everyone, especially women in today’s digitally connected world.

    . Control your online information and presence: On WhatsApp, you can control your personal details such as – Profile Photo, Last Seen, Online status, About, Status, and who sees it by selecting who gets access to their online information – everyone, contacts only, select contacts, or no one – empowering you to control your digital presence.

    .You choose who you talk to: WhatsApp is a private and safe space for people to communicate with their loved ones and people who have your phone number. However, at times when you receive problematic messages from unknown numbers, you can ‘block and report’ the account. Blocked contacts or numbers will no longer be able to call you or send you messages.

    . Safeguard your account privacy: On WhatsApp, you can add an extra layer of security to your account by enabling Two-Step Verification, which requires a six-digit PIN when resetting and verifying your WhatsApp account.

    . Not every message needs to last forever: For added privacy for your conversations, you can turn on disappearing messages that vanish within twenty-four hours, seven days or ninety days after the time they are sent, depending on the duration you select.

    . Secure your most private chats: Use Chat Lock to protect your most intimate conversations with a password, securing them in a separate folder. When someone messages you and you have that chat locked, no one can see those messages even if someone has your phone.

     

  • Myntra teams up with Meta

    Myntra teams up with Meta

    Mumbai: To commemorate it’s 17th Birthday, Myntra has launched a fun emoji campaign on WhatsApp, in partnership with Meta and Gupshup, ahead of the Myntra Birthday Blast, scheduled to be held between March 1-7. Redefining the pre-event buzz with an exciting twist on traditional WhatsApp chatbots, Myntra has ensured that its Birthday becomes truly special for its customers and is filled with surprises. This campaign will be live on WhatsApp, for Myntra users on 1 and 2 March. It will be an interactive and personalized experience for users, who will have to guess the hidden emojis to unlock Myntra’s official cheat sheet for accessing incredible offers of Myntra Birthday Blast.

    This campaign will see Myntra’s chatbot, via the official WhatsApp account of the company, send a challenge to users, asking them to find a secret emoji, related to birthday celebrations, to receive a return gift, as per the applicable T&C of the campaign. Upon responding, customers are rewarded with the ‘cheat sheet’, which serves as a quick snapshot of the incredible price points during the Myntra Birthday Blast. In this one-of-a-kind campaign, users will also receive unique selections and offers tailored to their preferences, for every emoji used, which can then be availed during the Myntra Birthday Blast. For instance if a user responds to the bot with a ‘jeans’ emoji, that user will receive a cheat sheet with all the jeans related offers.

    Myntra has categorised the emojis as per the different categories, that users shop from, to generate tailor-made responses. Additionally, as part of this campaign, customers will also see the ‘reminder’ feature, in case users choose to stay updated on the latest offers on Myntra during its Birthday Blast event.

  • AiSensy unveils game-changing carousel messages feature on WhatsApp

    AiSensy unveils game-changing carousel messages feature on WhatsApp

    Mumbai: AiSensy, a pioneer in WhatsApp marketing, has launched a groundbreaking feature – Carousel Messages on WhatsApp. This innovative tool allows businesses to send carousel-format messages, showcasing multiple products and services in one single message. With clickable Call-To-Action (CTA) and Quick Reply buttons, these messages are designed to drive twice as many clicks as standard WhatsApp Broadcast messages.

    The introduction of Carousel Messages represents a significant leap in WhatsApp marketing capabilities. Businesses can now create and send up to 10 carousel cards in one message, offering a richer and more engaging customer experience. This feature not only enhances visibility for products and services but also drives higher engagement, with the potential to significantly increase click-through rates.

    AiSensy, as one of the first WhatsApp Business Solution Partners to incorporate this technology, makes the creation of Carousel Messages incredibly straightforward. Businesses can simply select a Carousel template, add their content, incorporate both CTA and Quick Reply buttons, and submit the template for approval – all within a few easy steps.

    “WhatsApp’s latest Carousel cards present an aesthetically pleasing and highly functional solution for businesses seeking to elevate their ROI,” remarked Gautam Rajesh Shelley, CEO & founder at AiSensy. “The incorporation of multiple Call-To-Action buttons within a single message adds an extra layer of versatility, making this innovative feature a true game-changer. From retail to technology, and beyond, the versatility of this Template message format empowers businesses across diverse industries to effortlessly showcase their offerings with unprecedented creativity and impact. Our clients have witnessed remarkable success with Carousel messages, achieving double click rates compared to standard WhatsApp Broadcast messages. This accomplishment is a testament to the effectiveness and potential of this groundbreaking tool in driving meaningful interactions and conversions.”

    Furthermore, Carousel Messages can also be used to share customer success stories, troubleshoot user queries by sharing step-by-step resolutions as well as share videos in the carousel format. The message acts as an opening for businesses across diverse industries to capture the user’s interest and help them drive high sales & revenue. 

  • Wibmo and Gupshup join forces for innovative transaction notifications via WhatsApp

    Wibmo and Gupshup join forces for innovative transaction notifications via WhatsApp

    Mumbai: Wibmo, a PayU company and a leading authority in payment security, fraud prevention, risk management solutions, and digital payments, proudly announces a strategic collaboration with Gupshup, the leading Conversation Cloud platform.  As part of this alliance, Wibmo, a PayU company, leverages Gupshup’s conversational Cloud platform to provide international issuers with the capability to deliver transaction notifications via WhatsApp. This proves invaluable in areas where network issues may cause delays in SMS OTP delivery. Additionally, Indian issuers stand to benefit as they can seamlessly send OTPs via WhatsApp to international customers, presenting a cost-effective alternative to SMS, particularly for multiple transactions within a 24-hour timeframe without compromising security.

    Key Highlights of the Partnership:

    Reduced Dependency on Regulatory SMS Compliances: Businesses can diminish their reliance on varied regulatory SMS compliances across different countries related to telecom, mitigating the impact on customers caused by time-to-time regulatory changes.

    Cost Reduction for Repeated Transactions: Issuers can significantly cut costs for repeated transactions within a day, enhancing operational efficiency and financial savings.

    Improved OTP Delivery Success Rate: The collaboration ensures an enhanced OTP delivery success rate compared to traditional SMS OTP, boosting overall transaction security and reducing business drop.

    Benefits of the WhatsApp Channel:

    Higher Trust Factor: WhatsApp’s verification process guarantees the credibility of messages, providing recipients with a higher level of trust compared to traditional SMS.

    End-to-End Encryption: WhatsApp OTP messages boast end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the intended recipient can access the message, eliminating any risk of interception.

    Better Delivery Success Rates: WhatsApp’s near 100% delivery rates, even in poor cellular signal coverage areas, ensure messages reach their intended recipients without disruptions.

    By combining Gupshup’s robust Conversational Cloud platform with Wibmo’s advanced fraud prevention capabilities, businesses can usher in a new era of secure, and cost-effective digital transactions. This partnership opens up avenues for brands to enhance customer satisfaction through secure and faster payments ultimately redefining the landscape of digital payments.

    “We are excited to partner with  an industry innovator like Wibmo to bring secure payment authentication directly into a channel that billions of people use daily: WhatsApp ,” said Gupshup CEO & co-founder Beerud Sheth.  “Our mission is to enable world-class customer experiences by making conversational engagement possible at scale. With our API platform and deep WhatsApp integration, this partnership will allow Wibmo to leverage WhatsApp’s ease, familiarity, and trust to improve the user experience for financial transactions.”

    “We are happy to announce our strategic partnership with Gupshup, a move that unites our cutting-edge technologies to forge a distinctive offering for businesses,” expressed Wibmo CEO Suresh Rajagopalan. “In joining forces with Gupshup, we aim to empower businesses to provide not only seamless but also secure and faster payment experiences. This collaboration underlines our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that transcend the conventional boundaries of customer engagement and transaction security.”

  • Telecommunications Bill introduced in Lok Sabha today

    Telecommunications Bill introduced in Lok Sabha today

    Mumbai: The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, that allows the government to take over, manage or suspend any or all telecommunication services or networks in the interest of national security, was introduced in Parliament on 18 December.

    The bill stated, “The Central Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so, in the interest of national security … taking over the control and management of, or suspending the operation of, or entrusting any authority of the Central Government to manage any or all of any telecommunication services, or any telecommunication network or part, thereof, connected with such telecommunication services.”

    It also said the Centre may by rules, provide for measures to protect and ensure the cyber security of telecommunication networks and telecommunication services, and the measures may include collection, analysis and dissemination of traffic data that is generated, transmitted, received or stored in telecommunication networks.

    The bill empowers the government to notify standards and conformity assessment measures related to encryption and data processing, including identification, analysis, and prevention of intrusion in telecommunication services and telecommunication networks. This means the government can then formulate encryption standards for services such as WhatsApp, potentially dealing a fatal blow to end-to-end encryption and private interpersonal communication.

    The draft bill, which was first released for public consultation in September 2022, now proposes designating telecommunication networks as “critical telecommunication networks”. The 2023 version also seeks to rename the Universal Service Obligation Fund as Digital Bharat Nidhi.

    According to Vodafone Idea Ltd CEO Akshaya Moondra said, “The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, tabled in the parliament, represents a watershed moment in the telecom reform process and reaffirms the commitment of the Government to provide Indian telecom with a future-fit framework that helps achieve the growth aspirations of new India.

    The Bill carries several forward-looking provisions that will help deliver the benefits of digital connectivity to all our citizens. We warmly welcome the rationalization of penalties and the legal enforceability of right of way provisions, a long-standing request of the industry.

    Security of telecom networks is paramount, and the Bill recognizes telecom as critical infrastructure and prescribes punitive consequences for those who damage it.

    By highlighting the duties of users, the Bill puts equal responsibility on consumers to meet the requirements of national security.”

  • Telecommunications Bill 2023 to be tabled in Lok Sabha today

    Telecommunications Bill 2023 to be tabled in Lok Sabha today

    Mumbai: The Telecommunications Bill 2023 will be tabled in Lok Sabha on 18 December i.e today.

    The draft Telecommunications Bill released in 2023 had proposed to bring over-the-top or internet-based calling and messaging apps under the definition of telecommunications to enhance users’ safety.

    The bill had also proposed to curb the power of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), on which industry players had raised concerns.

    According to media reports, the definition of telecommunications services reportedly does not include OTT and this is believed to come as a relief for WhatsApp and Telegram as these communication service providers will be out of the scope of telecom regulations.

  • Meta and Netflix partner to launch Archies-themed stickers on WhatsApp

    Meta and Netflix partner to launch Archies-themed stickers on WhatsApp

    Mumbai: Giving GenZ a chance to celebrate the upcoming Archies movies, Meta and Netflix India have partnered to launch an Archies-themed sticker pack on WhatsApp. The sticker pack will include key characters from Riverdale, i.e., Agastya Nanda as Archie Andrews, Khushi Kapoor as Betty Cooper, Suhana Khan as Veronica Lodge, Vedang Raina as Reggie Mantle, Mihir Ahuja as Jughead Jones, Aditi Dot as Ethel Muggs, and Yuvraj Menda as Dilton Doiley.

    The stickers are an exciting way for users to express themselves and their emotions on a WhatsApp chat without having to use words and are available to download on Android and iOS devices.

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by WhatsApp (@whatsapp)

     

    Netflix India VP marketing Srivats TS, “The Archies, releasing on December 7 on Netflix, reimagines the classic Archie Comics. The film takes you on a nostalgic journey with these unique and charming characters, making them a perfect fit for stickers on WhatsApp. With the growing popularity and relatability of stickers, this collaboration will enable fans across India to connect with their favorite characters.”

    Meta director of consumer marketing Vyom Prashant said, “We want to bring more contextual and engaging experiences on WhatsApp that resonate with our users. We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Netflix India on the special Archies-themed stickers, and foresee great traction, especially by Gen Z and millennials when they are texting their friends, family, or in their group chats.”

    Stickers have become one of the most popular ways of communicating on WhatsApp, helping people share thoughts and expressions effortlessly and become even more exciting with their favourite characters.

    Download here – https://wa.me/stickerpack/TheArchiesOnNetflix 

  • WhatsApp launches ‘Check the Facts’ campaign

    WhatsApp launches ‘Check the Facts’ campaign

    Mumbai: WhatsApp has launched an integrated safety campaign ‘Check the Facts’ in an effort to drive user-awareness around WhatsApp’s safety features and promote digital best practices that help prevent the spread of misinformation on the platform and empower people to take control of their messaging experience.

    The month-long campaign highlights WhatsApp’s in-built product features and safety tools like block and report, forward labels that equip users to spot misinformation and prevent its spread further, and encourages people to verify information that sounds suspicious or inaccurate via fact-checking organisations on WhatsApp Channels. More details on the safety campaign can be found here: https://blog.whatsapp.com/check-the-facts

    While there is no single action that can help prevent the spread of misinformation and fake news online, WhatsApp’s ‘Check the Facts’ campaign serves as a simple safety guide to fight misinformation.

    1. Understand when a message is forwarded

    WhatsApp has created a label for all forwarded messages and limits the number of times you can forward messages as a way to encourage users to reconsider before sharing. Paying careful attention to messages with “forward labels” also helps slow down the spread of rumours, viral messages, and fake news. For example, if a message has a double arrow icon and is labeled “forwarded many times,” it can only be forwarded to one chat at a time. If a message has a “forwarded label” you can forward it to up to five chats and only one group at a time.

    2. Block and report suspicious accounts

    WhatsApp provides a simple way for users to block accounts and make reports to WhatsApp if they encounter problematic messages, including those spreading misinformation. If you receive a message from an unknown sender, WhatsApp provides users the option to block them, with additional details such as groups in common, along with safety tools if you need to take action.

    3. Follow fact-checking organisation on WhatsApp Channels for accurate information

    WhatsApp encourages users to double-check information that sounds suspicious or inaccurate – this is key to preventing the spread of misinformation. WhatsApp has partnered with 10 independent fact-checking organisations that help users to verify information in 13 languages. People can follow dedicated fact-checking organisations on WhatsApp Channels to receive verified and accurate updates.

    The fact-checking channels available include:

    Boom Fact-Check
    Fact Crescendo 
    Factly     
    India Today Fact Check 
    Newschecker 
    NewsMobile 
    Webqoof 
    The Healthy Indian Project 
    Vishvas News
    NewsMeter FactCheck