30 May 2020  |   04:42am IST

Goans applaud Twitter’s fact checking label, to check misleading posts

The dissemination of half-truths has become rampant in this day and age by people generally. For politicians and parties disseminating information is important and sometimes half-truths are disseminated. The move by Twitter to issue fact checking labels against President Donald Trump is a first. It could have ramifications around the world and here in Goa too. Café spoke to various people who are very active on the platform to gauge their reaction to this move.

Ajit John

The digital world may be an exciting world but it is also filled with hate. Trolling is a full-time occupation for a certain kind of people who have no problems attacking anything and everything done by people who they oppose. The effects of this can be quite dangerous.  The same hold true for politics with the lure of power making politicians or wannabe politicians do strange things. Like for example posting information that may be patently wrong. This move by Twitter, to put a fact check alert could change things for the better.    

Social media which initially brought humanity together is today being blatantly used to divide people and turn them against each other for vested agendas by many so-called leaders - local, national and global. In these circumstances, it is extremely urgent and important to have fact-checking mechanisms which are brutally objective, fully transparent and publicly accountable lest these new arbiters of truth themselves, even unintentionally, become sources of falsities- Vincent Paul Toscano, Founder Uzoorba Technologies LLP  

Social Media platforms need to fact check information and news-related content. In today's world of constant fake news, edited videos morphed pictures, there is an imminent need to fact check without a bias. Social Media platforms like Twitter have a history of bias. Social media platforms are the new platforms for information and many believe the information on social media platforms.  Fact check is important even if it’s from a politician

- Savio Rodrigues Journalist

 

The Twitter fact-checking warning label feature is awesome and is definitely the need of the hour. We have seen how messages, videos, and images get viral without any verifications. During these tough times, we need to share news responsibly to avoid panic situations

- Manguirish Salelkar - President of Goa Technology Association

 

I believe that any news should be checked and verified only then should it be disseminated. There is a lot of malicious content out there which can cause a great deal of harm. So preventive measures like this have to be welcomed. I am very happy with this move by Twitter

- Sidharth Kuncalienker, Former BJP MLA Panjim

 

No one is above fact-checking, not even President Trump. Especially him. Some fact checkers do a good job, others can be flawed. I wouldn't blame "politicians and parties" alone for spreading fake news in Goa. Many others do it, sometimes without even being aware of what they are doing. There are also supporters of parties or politicians who play a role without revealing their hand. In Goa, the manipulation of social media before elections has been increasingly visible, especially since around 2012 or thereabouts. Huge groups were set up, perhaps with an eye on the elections. Prior to that, social media wasn't seen as having had such a big impact in Goa, and was viewed as something mainly relevant mainly in expat communities. But, as with other sections of the media itself, in the social media too, controlling and manipulating the debate can be a crucial activity for those with their agenda- 

Frederick Noronha  Publisher Goa 1556