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A platform to weed out Online rumors was launched by China in order to put a stop to socially destabilizing Content.
The app uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify false reports, said a Reuters report.
The platform ‘Piyao’, which means “refuting rumors”, also has a mobile app & social media accounts with social media giants Weibo & WeChat. Through them, it will broadcast “real” news, sourcing reports from state-owned media, party-controlled local newspapers & various government agencies. Which means, good bye, fake news.
The move comes in the wake of Beijing upping its efforts to police the Internet. Moreover, social media is used by people to discuss politics & other sensitive subjects despite stringent censorship.
In a promotional video of the launch, Piyao stated on its Website:
“Rumors violate individual rights; rumors create social panic; rumors cause fluctuations in the stock markets; rumors impact normal business operations; rumors blatantly attack revolutionary martyrs.”
More about the platform:
- It is hosted by the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission in affiliation with the official Xinhua news agency.
- The platform has integrated over 40 local rumor-refuting platforms & uses AI to identify rumors.
- Piyao operates under the guidance of 27 government departments, including the Central Party School, which trains rising officials, & powerful planning body the National Development & Reform Commission.
The fake news trail
- As per the official data, Internet regulators received 6.7 million reports of illegal & false information in July.
- Most of the cases came in from Sina that owns Weibo, Tencent which owns Wechat, Baidu & Alibaba.
- Rumor-mongers could be charged with defamation & they face up to 7 years in prison, state Chinese laws.
- Also, Online posts that contain rumors visited by 5,000 internet users or are reposted more than 500 times could also incur jail sentences.
- Popular rumors that circulate Online are regularly reported & refuted by Chinese media. However, it mostly mentions topics involving issues like corrupt local officials or health scares but not anything more salacious about senior leaders.
- President Xi Jinping said last year that China will build a “clean & clear” Internet space.