WhatsApp Replies to Govt's Notice on Lynchings, Assures to Curb Spread of Rumours
The notice was issued to the WhatsApp top brass by the Ministry of Electronics, Information and Technology on Tuesday.
New Delhi, July 4: In response to the government's notice seeking technological barriers to the spread of rumours via WhatsApp, the social media messaging giant issued a reply saying it would introduce new features which would significantly crackdown on the menace.
The notice was issued to the WhatsApp top brass by the Ministry of Electronics, Information and Technology on Tuesday. The measure was adopted by the Centre after rumours of child-lifting led to the lynching of 29 people across India.
"WhatsApp has sent us a reply from California," confirmed Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, further listing the steps which the social media app would undertake to crackdown on rumours.
"They say they've launched a setting where a group admin can decide who can send messages. They also said they're trying to see that messages aren't forwarded without reading and understanding. I appreciate this initiative," he said.
The 29 lynchings, reported across several states including Tripura, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, were caused primarily due to the rumour of a child-lifting gang being in operation.
"We found that disinformation & provocative messages on WhatsApp played a major role in instigating violence," Prasad said.
"While we welcome WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook they must also remain accountable, responsible and vigilant," he added.
The Opposition has appealed the government to take up the issue more proactively with the social media companies.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also asked the ruling BJP to crackdown on right-wing troll who are spewing venom against the minorities.
"BJP Central and state governments are not maintaining the standards of law and order as constitutionally mandated. This, in itself, is an encouragement and patronization of the private armies who are spreading this atmosphere of hate and violence whipping up mass hysteria all across," said CPI(M) chief Sitaram Yechury.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2018 05:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).