Karnataka selects five companies to join fact-checking units

These units will check fake news and misinformation on social media

Government plans to collaborate with fact-checkers to eliminate fake news

Karnataka has selected five companies, including one named after the late journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, to join its fact-checking units in the ongoing battle against the surge of fake news and misinformation on social media platforms.

Following the Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT-BT) department’s call for expressions of interest in October, the government received bids from seven companies, ultimately choosing Gauri Media, Logically Infomedia Private Limited, Trylika Technology Limited, OW Data Leads Private Limited, and Newsplus Communications.

Among them, Logically, Trylike, and OW Data Leads will be involved in fact-checking, analytics, and capacity building teams within the state, while Gauri Media, established as a trust after Gauri Lankesh’s tragic murder in 2017, was selected for its expertise in the Kannada language.

IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge emphasized that, in addition to these companies meeting stringent criteria, the government plans to collaborate with independent fact-checkers from diverse backgrounds who share the goal of eliminating misinformation from society.