Kamal Haasan launches ‘Maiam Whistle’ app

Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan on Monday launched ‘Maiam Whistle’, a mobile application that can be used to flag civic and socio-political issues.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of the app at his party office in Alwarpet, Mr. Haasan made it clear that it could not be used as a “magic wand” to solve all problems, but would be a listening tool “for us, even for Makkal Needhi Maiam, to see and listen to our [the State’s] problems.”

It was promised that the app would be launched in January, but its launch was delayed because of his intention to release a “working app”, he said.

“The common people can also do what the media does. The members of the Makkal Needhi Maiam will support their work. The application can be used to report and flag environmental pollution, crimes, corruption and other issues. It can be used to blow the whistle [on such activities]. This is the first step towards a solution,” the actor-turned-politician contended.

‘Not a stand-in for govt.’

The app was not a stand-in for the government, but a tool that could help the government, he said.

“Previously, we used to write Letters to the Editor. Now, we write on Facebook. But we don’t have an agency to keep highlighting them [the issues raised],” Mr. Haasan said.

To a query how users of the app could be prevented from flagging fake information, Mr. Haasan said, “There will be pranksters who [will] try to bring the platform down to prove that it is not worth it. We are aware of it and filters have been built into it [the app]. Continuous [flagging of] false information will result in the member being barred.”

Only for T.N., Puducherry

At the moment, the application is open to those who register as members of the Makkal Needhi Maiam and are residing in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

A.R. Abishek, one of the developers of the app, said that the issues flagged by the users would be fact-checked by other users and by the administrators of the application, so as to prevent people from posting false information.

“If need be, we will also send someone to see if the issue raised really exists. But in an area like Alwarpet, there will be other ‘champions’ who will check on it,” he said.