Experts Discuss Tackling Fake News and AI Deepfakes in Hyderabad
Experts from the IT and legal fields came together on Sunday to share their knowledge about addressing the growing issues of fake news and AI-generated deepfakes. The event was part of an awareness camp designed to educate participants on these pressing concerns.
The programme, called CHECKIT, was held at the COVA Peace Network office near Chandrayangutta. Organisers explained that the camp focused on training ‘Community Champions’ in practical fact-checking skills. Participants learned about cyberspace, the reasons behind the creation of fake news, and the various forms it takes, including false text, manipulated images, and AI-generated videos.
During the training, participants were introduced to basic fact-checking tools and techniques for verifying images. According to Mazher Hussain of COVA Peace Network, the sessions included problem-solving exercises and hands-on activities. These allowed attendees to identify fake content, detect altered photos and videos, and understand how AI technologies can produce false information.
The participants were divided into six teams to apply their skills to real-world scenarios. Each team tackled examples from areas such as politics, religion, legal issues, social concerns, financial fraud, consumer scams, and medical misinformation. They presented their findings and discussed strategies for combating fake news. Teams also worked on action plans, including setting up alert systems, building support networks, and forming community groups. A session was conducted on reporting fake news and spreading awareness about the importance of verifying information before sharing it.
At the end of the event, G V Rao, president of the Telangana Developers Association and the guest of honour, presented certificates to all participants. The programme featured experts such as Bharath Guniganti from Factly, Nabeel K Adeni from EnLeap XP Canada, Moinuddin Ali Khan from Advipract, Taher Hussain Sheeraz, a cybercrime expert, and Mohd Shadab from Momentum AI. These facilitators helped guide participants in understanding and combating the challenges posed by fake news and deepfakes.
