COVID-19: Google Engages 30 Publishers In India To Start News Platform

Google has brought together 30 domestic news publishers on Tuesday and launched its Showcase news platform in India at a time when the country is trying to eliminate misinformation surrounding a fierce second wave of COVID-19.

Amid the shortage of critical medical supply, Indians have become increasingly dependent on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for information related to the crisis.

Google will pay the partnering publishers for their online content and allow them to curate it while allowing users limited access to paywalled stories. It did not reveal further financial details.

Google announced in a blog post that this is necessary at a crucial moment in India, with citizens of the country seeking trustworthy news and information.

"Today's announcement comes at a particularly challenging moment in India, with Indians seeking out authoritative news and information as the COVID-19 crisis deepens."

India, the world's second most populated country is currently having a total COVID-19 caseload crossing 25 million on Tuesday.

The Indian Government has asked social media platform giants, Twitter to take down dozens of tweets that were critical of its handling of the virus outbreak.

Google's service was globally launched late last year and has been in use in more than 12 countries, including Germany, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

Content from Indian publisher partners in English and Hindi will begin to appear in News Showcase panels in Google News and on Discover, Google said, adding it would launch additional Indic languages this year.

Google, led by Sundar Pichai, has promised $18 million in new funding for India, including advertising support for public health campaigns.