iWorld
MCA’s WhatsApp tipline trusted to combat AI-generated misinformation
Mumbai: The Misinformation Combat Alliance’s (MCA) Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) Tipline on WhatsApp has emerged as a trusted resource for raising public awareness and a critical instrument in helping combat the spread of AI-generated misinformation. The WhatsApp tipline became available for public use on 25 March 2024 and has received hundreds of messages, successfully assisting people to discern between real and synthetic media.
Users can flag AI-manipulated content in the form of audio notes and videos by sending it to the WhatsApp tipline and will receive assessments on whether a piece of media is AI-generated or contains elements of it. The tipline offers multilingual support in English and three regional languages (Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu).
With millions of Indians using WhatsApp, the collaboration between Meta and MCA represents a continued effort to empower users with tools to verify information on its service, especially to curb the spread of AI-generated misinformation.
In the short span of the DAU tipline being operational, the team has reviewed challenging content manipulated using AI technology. It has seen noticeable trends emerge that can help educate the public on spotting deepfakes, empowering them to debunk false claims and prevent the spread of such misinformation.
Analyzing the trends based on the messages received on the DAU tipline, the bulk of the content has been in the form of videos.
● In most cases where AI is used to manipulate videos, the original audio tracks have been replaced with AI-generated audio. There are multiple examples of this kind of audio tampering in videos featuring actors, businessmen, politicians, and even TV anchors.
● Memes of politicians and their likenesses created using A.I. have sometimes involved face-blending techniques or cheaper techniques lacking sophistication.
● In a few videos analysed, the team was able to assess that the mouth of a subject had been recreated using generative A.I. so that their lip movements could synchronise with their words to produce what is called a lip sync deepfake.
DAU head Pamposh Raina said, “The strength of the DAU lies in the collaborative model which it is building by partnering with detection and forensic experts, which in turn is helping DAU’s fact-checking partners who are an integral part of this project. At the end of the day, our goal is to drive public awareness on the issue of algorithm-based fabrication and I am confident that this kind of a symbiotic model can be replicated across the globe to combat misinformation spread through audio and video content produced using generative AI.”
Next time you’re not sure if something is a deepfake, send it to the DAU tipline on WhatsApp.
1. Start a chat with the DAU on WhatsApp by forwarding audio notes or videos you want to verify to +91 9999025044.
2. In response to your message, you will receive an assessment report on whether a piece of media is AI-generated or contains elements of it.
3. Follow DAU’s WhatsApp Channel where you can receive assessments of verified content in real-time (https://bit.ly/dauwachannel).
MCA is a cross-industry alliance bringing companies, organizations, institutions, industry associations and entities together to collectively fight misinformation and its impact. Currently, MCA has 16 members including fact-checking organizations, media outlets, and civic tech and are inviting strategic partners to collaborate in this industry-wide initiative to combat misinformation and create an enlightened and informed society. Seven detection and forensics partners are lending their expertise and knowledge to support the Deepfakes Analysis Unit.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
