WhatsApp "horrified" at lynchings, will take steps against fake news
WhatsApp has taken cognisance of the Indian government's concerns about the propagation of fake news via its platform. Following a spate of fake news-driven mob lynchings across the country, the government had asked WhatsApp to put an end to the nuisance "in no uncertain terms". The Facebook-owned messaging service said that it was "horrified", and that it was taking requisite action. Here's more.
WhatsApp encourages cooperation to tackle the issue
"We're horrified by these terrible acts of violence and wanted to respond quickly to the very important issues you have raised. We believe this is a challenge that requires government, civil society and technology companies to work together," said WhatsApp's in a letter to MeitY.
WhatsApp details some of the steps it's taking
WhatsApp listed a number of steps it's taking to combat the menace of fake news. It said that it was testing labels that would highlight forwarded messages, thereby allowing people to reconsider before believing the contents of a message. In mid-May, WhatsApp added protections to prevent users who leave a group from being added back. Group admins can also control who can send messages.
WhatsApp to work with academia and law enforcement
The messaging service also announced plans of working with academia to understand the spread of misinformation in India. In addition, it also said that it would soon launch an engagement programme with law enforcement officials across the country to ensure that "they [the officials] are familiar with our [WhatsApp's] approach, and how we can be helpful".
19 dead from lynching owing to fake WhatsApp forwards
The most recent incident of fake news-driven lynching happened a couple of days ago in Rainpada of Dhule, Maharashtra, where villagers lynched five people over suspicions that they were 'child-lifters'. The suspicions, of course, had been based on fake WhatsApp forwards. The incident took the WhatsApp fake news death toll to 19, within just 1.5 months.
