Logically, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technology company that detects fake news, local fallacies, inaccuracies and biases, unveiled the #SwachhPhone campaign in Mumbai on Friday, ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Lyric Jain, founder and CEO of Logically, said, “While there are risks of using technology and AI to combat misinformation, there are greater risks in not doing so. It is the equivalent of bringing a knife to a gunfight because bad actors in the current fake information warfare are equipped with extremely sophisticated technologies.”
Logically will not only create awareness about rising ‘fake news’ but also lay out proven techniques to mitigate the risks of misinformation and disinformation campaigns, he said.
“Fake news has moved from open networks to closed networks. Combating fake news in India is a challenge when it comes to closed networks like WhatsApp,” said Mr. Jain.
Fake news, he said, is usually circulated in the form of images with deceptive text. “There is a lot of organised misinformation from political parties or the Pakistani intelligence during elections. Government institutions have powers that are underutilised.”
Logically’s team of 30 — another 20 are being trained — use methods like the reverse Google image search and programs such as Sunchart and WUnderground to debunk fake news.
“We have enough human capital and technical support to efficiently impact the issue in the State. All we need now is enthusiastic participation from the people to fight fake news,” Mr. Jain said.
After witnessing a breakdown in civic and political discourse during the Brexit debate and the 2016 presidential election in U.S., Logically was conceived by the 22-year-old Mr. Jain, a Cambridge and MIT graduate. The work is aimed at supporting democracies, and building partnerships with government, media and content organisations.
