To support fact-checking on WhatsApp, the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter is offering a new round of its Spread the Facts grant program in partnership with Meta to combat artificial intelligence-generated misinformation.
The grants are for fact-checking organizations that want to scale and experiment with ways to leverage the WhatsApp Business app or WhatsApp Business Platform (WhatsApp API) to accomplish one of the following goals over the course of six months:
- Develop strategies to identify AI-generated misinformation that’s been submitted by users to fact-checkers using the WhatsApp Business app or WhatsApp Business Platform
- Leverage generative AI to optimize fact-checker workflows on the WhatsApp Business Platform
This new initiative will offer grant funding within two platforms in the WhatsApp ecosystem:
- $20,000 for IFCN signatory organizations with the status of “active” or “in renewal” at the time of the application, who are already using the free WhatsApp Business app.
- $40,000 for IFCN signatory organizations with the status of “active” or “in renewal” at the time of the application, who are already using the paid WhatsApp Business Platform.
Through this initiative, grantees will have an opportunity to experiment and innovate with WhatsApp functionality to increase the reach of their existing projects and enhance the experience of their audience.
We encourage projects that develop solutions benefitting the broader fact-checking community, partner with organizations in other sectors — such as nonprofits, newsrooms and nongovernmental organizations — and leverage WhatsApp Channels to highlight their efforts.
The entire grant fund is $300,000, with the number of grant recipients depending on the mix of applicants. Fact-checking organizations may apply for only one of the two categories.
The application will open on May 31, and close July 8. More details for applicants are available via this webpage.
As with other grants, an applicant is required to register at https://ifcn.grantplatform.com/.
