Google has announced that it will be extending financial support worth $6.5 million to fact-checkers and non-profit organizations fighting with misinformation globally with the core focus being the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, reports The Statesman.
The tech giant added that the funding is part of the Google News Initiative program which is also providing an online resource hub, dedicated training and crisis simulations for reporters covering COVID-19 all over the globe.
“To help, we’re supporting Data Leads in partnership with BOOM Live in India and Africa Check in Nigeria to leverage data from Question Hub. This will be complemented by an effort to train 1,000 journalists across India and Nigeria to spot health misinformation,” said Alexios Mantzarlis, Lead of News and Information Credibility at Google News Lab.
The first draft is already out and is using its CrossCheck network to help newsrooms respond quickly and address escalating misinformation which is causing confusion and harm.
