The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have today introduced the iVerify Network of Fact-Checking Desks, a platform for avoiding misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Council, David Omwoyo, the goal of the company will be to produce fact-checked reports and organize responses using a multi-stakeholder strategy to counter challenges to information integrity.
Omwoyo claimed that in order to ensure accurate reporting that is based on facts, they are enlisting a number of stakeholders to drive the agenda for fact-checking.
“We have trained our staff across the country, and we will be at hand to support media workers countrywide through capacity building on fact-checking,” Omwoyo said.
Dan Juma of the UNDP observed that a significant portion of Kenyans utilizes digital devices, with 75 per cent of them finding it challenging to discriminate between information that is accurate and unreliable during election seasons.
“The iVerify platform not only targets the elections but will also be used as an information verification tool on all issues,” said Juma.
Esther Koimett, the principal secretary of the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunication, said that hate speech, deception, and misinformation have increased dramatically during elections, particularly at political rallies.
By bridging the gap between the news cycle and fact-checking for professional reporting, the platform will improve the consumption of factual information and assist the government.
“We believe that the platform will help to restore law and order on the use of social media by sharing accurate and balanced information,” she said.