‘Verify info, don’t trust content blindly’

Chennai: “Sugar does not cause diabetes. Fact or misinformation,” asks a message on a screen as one walks into the free exhibition titled TruthCon on misinformation and deepfakes launched by TEDx Napier Bridge (Chennai wing of TEDx) at Kamarajar Arangam on Saturday.
At a time when misinformation and fake videos were rife during the Lok Sabha election, the exhibition explained about fake news, morphed audios, deepfakes, and how misinformation is spread on social media.The first check is not to trust content blindly and to look for markers to see if the source is credible or not. From looking at ethical guidelines on websites to doing image reverse searches, the exhibit also offered solutions. This apart, TEDx Napier Bridge presented a toolkit to tackle several online grievance platforms and guidance tips.
“We chose this theme because misinformation and fake news are being spread heavily during the Lok Sabha elections. People must be aware of such propaganda,” said Shyam Sundar, TEDx Napier Bridge curator. It also had a separate section on deepfakes targeting women.
Moving on, the exhibition had tips on how to catch fake news or misinformation: look for neutral and balanced versions of news and look for editorial and ethical guidelines in the content portal/website.
At the end of the exhibits, a message scrolled on a screen at the exit: “Sugar does not cause diabetes. It is a fact.” The exhibition is open from 10.30am to 6.30pm on Sunday.