War on fake news: WhatsApp testing 'suspicious link detection' feature

In yet another move to stem the spread of fake news and misinformation through its instant messaging app, Facebook-owned WhatsApp is testing a label, which marks “unusual” links sent on chats as “suspicious”. 

The company is testing this feature in a beta version of its Android app, in a bid to crack down on fake news. The way it works is by identifying the characters in the link shared and noticing unusual patterns in the web address. 

For instance, sometimes, characters are camouflaged to make suspicious sites seem real. Recently, a fake email involving a UK company Global Sign was