Thread by @tattlemade

At Tattle, we understand the devastating impact of mis- and disinformation, especially on social media in regional languages. We developed Feluda, an open-source tool to address this challenge head-on.

Content analysis methods often fall short when URLs are absent in photos or messages. Feluda changes the game by enabling multimodal analysis through visual and semantic similarity across modalities. This makes it easier to analyze native multimedia content in Indian languages.

With Feluda, researchers can conduct image and video searches on Indian fact-checking sites, generate analytical reports on content circulating on platforms like WhatsApp, and gain valuable insights into themes present in multimodal datasets.

The impact is evident in a case study exploring information chaos on WhatsApp during India's second COVID-19 wave. Feluda helped shed light on the spread of mis- and dis-information, allowing fact-checkers and researchers to make informed decisions.

tattle.co.in/articles/covid…

There's still more work to be done. Sustained funding is crucial to enhance Feluda's impact and scalability. We also emphasize the importance of collaborating with journalists and fact-checkers to uncover important stories, track narratives, and go beyond text-only SM analysis.

Tattle is honoured to be among the 9 selected solutions by @DPGAlliance and @UNDP, promoting information integrity and fostering a trustworthy digital experience. #InformationIntegrity

digitalpublicgoods.net/information-po…

We firmly believe that open-source solutions like Feluda and the other 8 shortlisted ones offer distinct advantages in addressing information pollution. They promote transparency, collaboration, and easy adaptation to different contexts.

The fight against information pollution requires a collective effort that requires the collaboration of individuals, organizations, and technology. Together, we can make a difference.

#Feluda #OpenSourceSolutions #CombatMisinformation #Collaboration #InformationIntegrity