At Media Party 2019, Caio Almeida (Meedan) presented Check Message, an open-source tool designed to counter misinformation spreading across private platforms like WhatsApp. To handle the overwhelming volume of claims in private groups, the system uses automated bots for message deduplication, grouping identical inquiries so journalists verify high-volume viral claims only once.
By prioritizing the most frequently shared content, Check Message sends verified responses directly back to users as text, links, or memes. Deployed during high-stakes events like the Indian elections, this system proves how automated tools can scale fact-checking within closed messaging networks to mitigate real-world harm.
