Theme: Truth in the age of the internet

The event aims to generate fruitful and engaging discussion on a crucial issue in our digital age: the reliability of information and news online. Set in a cozy coffee shop environment, TEDxNITTrichySalon aims to explore not only the ways individuals can gauge the reliability and veracity of online information, but also the associated sociological trends and impacts. Designed to be interactive and warm, our event aims to provide both our speakers and our audience with unique insights and actionable takeaways.

Cafe Coffee Day
National Institute of Technology, Trichy
Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, 620015
India

Balu Swaminathan

President, Cyber Society of India

Mr. Balu Swaminathan is the vice president of the Cyber Society of India, and former Additional Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crimes). He is a cybercrime consultant with 34 years of experience in Law Enforcement and has served in the Cyber Crime Cells of TN, India. He is the winner of the “India Cyber Cop Award” (runner) by NASSCOM, the President of India Police Medal for Meritorious Service, and many other prestigious awards. He is also currently an advisor for Hand in Hand India. Mr. Balu has dealt with numerous cases of phishing, online cheating, and hacking, throughout his career countering cyber crime, giving him a detailed insight into the mechanics of misinformation and deception through the veils of the internet. Given his work with the cyber crime cells, he would have first hand experience as to the consequences of misinformation and could throw light on to how large of an issue misinformation actually is.

Mohammed Shammas

Software Engineer + Online Hoaxslayer

Mr Mohammad Shammas (Oliyath) is the co-founder of Check4Spam, myth-busting website that debunks fake news and misleading rumours over the internet. He is also an Advisory Software Engineer at IBM India Systems Development Labs (ISDL) and leads the SAK (System Assurance Kernel) Development Team in India. Check4Spam operates as a non-commercial online service to identify fake news that circulates online and is the brainchild of Mr Oliyath, who handles the content, research as well as WhatsApp, Facebook and email responses. Despite being a self funded project, Check4Spam receives over 100 messages per day, and puts up an average of 2-3 debunking posts on its website daily. Mr Oliyath’s firsthand technical experience in fighting fake news makes him a formidable panelist for TEDxNITTrichySalon, and he can elucidate on the particulars of how fake news spreads, how to sniff out fake news and why making the truth go viral as opposed to lies is of paramount importance today.