UP Police's fact check, suicidal alertinitiatives win ET GovTech Awards

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Police has earned national recognition by securing two prestigious accolades at the Economic Times GovTech Awards 2026, becoming the only state police force in the country to be awarded in two separate categories in a single edition.The awards were conferred on DGP Rajeev Krishna at the 6th ET GovTech Conclave & Awards held in New Delhi on Thursday. This year's edition featured 26 categories spanning governance, law enforcement, public sector innovation, and allied institutions.The ‘UP Police Fact Check' initiative was honoured under the Digital Policing & Law Enforcement Excellence category, while the ‘Meta Suicidal Alert' system received the Digital Citizen Engagement & Grievance Redressal Award."The recognition underscores UP's growing emphasis on technology-led policing. Under CM Yogi Adityanath's leadership, the state has prioritised digital innovation in governance and law enforcement. DGP Rajeev Krishna has particularly driven the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools into policing systems, with both award-winning initiatives emerging as flagship examples," said a UPP spokesperson.According to Rahul Srivastava, the PRO to the DGP and in charge of the Social Media Cell, the Fact Check initiative was launched in 2017 as a proactive response to the rising threat of misinformation on social media. The force introduced @UPPViralCheck on X (formerly Twitter), marking India's first police-run fact-checking platform. Its mandate includes tracking viral content, verifying claims, and issuing timely rebuttals to prevent misinformation from disrupting public order.The initiative was expanded in July 2022 with the launch of @UPPFactCheck on Facebook and Instagram, significantly widening its outreach.At the core of the system is a 24×7 Fact Check Desk at the UPP headquarters, which monitors content across major platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp. The verification process uses OSINT tools, reverse image searches, geolocation analysis, and metadata examination, supported by real-time coordination with district police units.Measurable ImpactThe initiative has demonstrated significant impact over the years. The @UPPViralCheck handle has recorded around 3.71 million impressions and issued over 236 fact-check rebuttals. The Instagram platform has garnered nearly 7.85 million views, while Facebook engagement has crossed 54.51 lakh views.Across all 75 districts, police units have issued approximately 4,100 clarifications, while 318 FIRs have been registered against individuals involved in spreading misinformation between December 2017 and February 2026.During Maha Kumbh 2025, coordinated attempts were made to circulate old and unrelated videos of stampedes, falsely linking them to the Prayagraj event. The intent was to create panic and damage the state's image. The UP Police Fact Check unit identified 204 suspicious accounts and initiated action, leading to the registration of 14 criminal cases. Officials said the timely intervention helped prevent panic, communal tension, and reputational damage.Using Social Media to Save LivesThe second award-winning initiative, Meta Suicidal Alert, reflects a pioneering use of social media for crisis intervention. UP Police is the first law enforcement agency globally to deploy such a system at scale in collaboration with Meta. Under this mechanism, posts indicating suicidal intent on Facebook or Instagram trigger immediate alerts to the UP Police Social Media Centre. A dedicated 24×7 team then traces the individual's location using integrated systems and coordinates with local police units for immediate intervention.Police personnel reach out to the individual and their family, facilitating counselling, support, and rescue efforts where required.Between Jan 1, 2023, and Feb 28, 2026, the system enabled the rescue of 2,181 individuals through 2,178 alerts, including 1,667 men and 514 women.