Facebook can now fact-check news in African languages

Facebook on Wednesday announced a partnership with fact-checking company Africa Check to bring local African language support to its third-party Fact-Checking programme.

The programme analyses the accuracy of news and other information on Facebook, ensuring that users don’t absorb or spread misinformation.

“We continue to make significant investments in our efforts to fight the spread of false news on our platform, whilst building supportive, safe, informed and inclusive communities,” said the company’s Africa public policy head, Kojo Boakye in a statement.

The move will help the social network improve its ability to fact-check information in local African languages.

These languages include Nigeria’s Yoruba and Igbo, Kenya’s Swahili and Senegal’s Wolof.

In South Africa, the social network will fact-check information in Zulu, Sotho, Northern Sotho, Setswana, Southern Ndebele, and Afrikaans.

Feature image: Facebook