Check Out the Website Busting Fake News in India
Ever wondered if there’s some truth to those Whatsapp forwards sent by your conspiracy theorist friend? You don’t have to keep wondering, as a new Bangalore-based myth busting website will fact-check and verify those messages for you. The straightforwardly named Check4Spam website specializes in verifying news stories sent via the web, including on Whatsapp, Facebook, and Twitter.
India, like much of the world, has been dealing with a flood of fake news stories, hoaxes and spam on social media and other web platforms. However, lately these have become more than just occasional annoyances that can be overlooked. Besides spreading misinformation, such messages have the potential to spark violence in parts of the country. With very few independent fact checking organizations currently in existence, Check4Spam has been well lauded for their efforts so far.
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Built by two tech professionals, Bal Krishn Birla and Shammas Oliyath, Check4spam has a noble mission: ‘to make life easy for the common man and life trouble for the spammers.’ The duo works during their spare time to verify internet news stories forwarded to them. They conduct the verification process by contacting persons or organizations mentioned in the news story, and then follow up with online and offline research for further confirmation.
The process is fairly simple for users: just forward a story to Check4Spam on Whatsapp, or use the submit page on their website. The website also has an archive of previous stories sent for verification, organized into seven major categories, including internet rumours, fake job postings, government initiatives and missing notices. Stories have ranged from rumours about the deaths of celebrities to false information spread about government policies.
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.