Verifying News Article Authenticity with Blockchain

In an era of misinformation and fake news, ensuring the credibility of news articles is crucial. Blockchain technology, known for its transparency and immutability, can play a significant role in this process.

Here’s how it works:


  1. User Interaction:

    • The user uploads or enters the article they want to verify.

    • They click the “Verify” button.

  2. Server Interaction:

    • The server receives the article content or its unique identifier (Article ID).

    • It queries the blockchain for the corresponding authentic article ID.

  3. Blockchain Verification:

    • The server compares the user-provided Article ID with the one stored on the blockchain.

    • If they match, the article is considered authentic.

    • If not, the article is flagged as unauthentic.

  4. Response to User:

    • The server sends a message back to the user interface:

    •                               “Article verified: Authentic” 
                                                    
                                                  or
      
                                    “Article verified: Unauthentic.”
                                    
  5. User Feedback:

    • The user can now make an informed decision based on the verification result.

Architecture


Article ID on the Blockchain:

  • Each news article could be assigned a unique identifier (Article ID) stored on a blockchain.

  • When publishing an article, the platform generates a cryptographic hash of the content and records it on the blockchain.

  • Users can verify the article’s authenticity by comparing the hash with the one stored on the blockchain.

Decentralized Verification:

  • Unlike centralized fact-checking agencies, blockchain verification is decentralized.

  • Anyone can independently verify an article’s authenticity without relying on a single authority.

In summary, leveraging blockchain for article verification enhances trust, promotes responsible journalism, and empowers users to make informed decisions