The anti-spam service app “Truecaller” is now a messaging app as it continues to develop into a social service with aim to combat fake news. This was announced by the company that its Android and iOS users will now have chat feature in its app.

Truecaller
Truecaller was developed by True Software Scandinavia AB, a Swedish company founded by Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam in 2009. The app was developed originally to screen spam calls and messages. This is achieved by finding contact details globally given a name or telephone number, and also has an integrated caller ID service to achieve call-blocking functionality. This is done to keep the phonebook up-to-date with pictures and birthdays.

Truecaller chat
The idea was born for the quest to help combat “fake news” an issue that has plagued WhatsApp in India. Truecaller chat is promising a functionality in its app that will let users to report links via a reporting button and kill the widespread of fake news. Furthermore the company is also planning to include AI and machine learning to the process.

By examining its claims to combat fake news with a reporting link, it is doubtless correct since Truecaller has a strong community. The information used to identify spam SMS and phone numbers inside its original app comes from community reporting. With this the company won’t have a dedicated fact-checkers but will rely on counter reports to what was broadcast.

Truecaller is also preparing to allow third-parties to integrate their services into its app. This could actually be quite handy for Android users just like Apple iMessager . Messages sent between Truecaller users will be handled in the app free, while to non-users will be sent as a normal SMS, which is also supported by the app.

The messaging feature is global, but it promises to make its biggest impact in India where fake news is gaining widespread and has become a great concern and worry to the Indian government.

As Truecaller continues to evolve, from spam detection into payments and now chat. What your say about the company and its stand on claims to eliminate fake news? Or are you thinking Truecaller will go full flag social network?

Team Techablaze.

Source: http://techablaze.com/blog/truecaller-becomes-a-messaging-app-to-fight-fake-news/