LIRNEasia recently unveiled "Dissect" – a cutting-edge web tool employing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tailored for effective fact-checking. What sets this tool apart is its compatibility with Sinhala websites, and its accessibility to anyone from anywhere in the world making fact-checking accessible to a wider audience in Sri Lanka..The web tool was beta-launched at a recent workshop hosted by LIRNEasia in Colombo, by introducing it to a select group of Sri Lankan journalists and fact-checkers. Leading journalists from leading media agencies, including Daily Mirror, Mawbima, and Sunday Morning, along with fact-checkers from FactCheck.lk (Verite Research) and Citizen Fact Check, attended the workshop. Their feedback will guide the LIRNEasia team in refining and enhancing the web tool for optimal performance.
Sri Lanka’s suppression of free speech takes many forms, from violent attacks on political opponents of the regime to a draft law giving the government the final say on what is published. A handful of independent online start-ups are doing their best to be heard despite the heavy odds.