WhatsApp Takes Another Step To Fight Misinformation With New Feature That Verifies Forwarded Messages

WhatsApp's new feature will let users directly check the authenticity of claims made via forwarded messages.

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New Delhi: Popular messaging platform WhatsApp has brought a new option for its users that will enable them to verify the claims made on forwarded messages.  Any message that has been forwarded across at least five times will have a magnifying glass icon on the side that will let users directly search the web to check the authenticity of the claim. The new option is titled 'Search Web' and is already made available in Brazil, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, UK, and the US. Users who have updated to the latest version of WhatsApp on Android, iOS and WhatsApp Web will able to spot the feature. (Image: https://blog.whatsapp.com/) "Providing a simple way to search messages that have been forwarded many times may help people find news results or other sources of information about the content they have received," WhatsApp stated in a blog post. "This feature works by allowing users to upload the message via their browser without WhatsApp ever seeing the message itself". Even though there has been no announcement about when will the feature be brought to India, the roll-out can be expected anytime soon. Meanwhile, as per reports, WhatsApp is also going to bring in multiple device support with which users will be able to access one account on a number of devices.