Google is providing $6.5m in funding to fact-checkers and non-profit organisations fighting misinformation around the world in an effort to help addre
Google is providing $6.5m in funding to fact-checkers and non-profit organisations fighting misinformation around the world in an effort to help address the challenge of the ongoing spread of misinformation related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The tech company said through its Google News Initiative it was providing the funds to support media outlets and fact-checkers working to combat misinformation around the COVID-19 pandemic.
Google identified Africa Check in Nigeria, Data Leads in partnership with BOOM Live in India and Question Hub as media organisations it was supporting. According to Google, it will also train 1,000 journalists across India and Nigeria to spot health misinformation.
Google said its online resources were being updated to support the vital work journalists were doing and the GNI Training Centre had tools for data journalism and verification in 16 languages.
The News and Information Credibility Lead, Google News Initiative News Lab Alexios Mantzarlis, said health authorities had warned that an overabundance of information could make it harder for people to obtain reliable guidance about the coronavirus pandemic.
