WhatsApp Usage to be Time-Restricted by Modi Government? Charge of Rs 499 Per Month to be Levied? Here's a Fact Check
As per the messages going viral, WhatsApp would be cutoff on daily basis in India between 11:30 pm to 6:00 am. Further, the hoax messages claim that if the post is not forwarded to at least 10 contacts in the next 48 hours, the recipient's WhatsApp account would be invalidated. To reopen the account, WhatsApp would levy a monthly charge of Rs 499 per month, the message adds.
Social media is rife with yet another fake news, this time involving the popular messaging application of WhatsApp. According to posts going viral on the app itself, the Narendra Modi government in India would soon be imposing a time-restriction on WhatsApp usage. The hoax messages further claim that a charge of Rs 499 per month would also be levied on non-avid users. Several users have received such forward messages over the past few days.
As per the messages going viral, WhatsApp would be cut off on daily basis in India between 11:30 pm to 6:00 am. A fact-check has, however, revealed that no such order has been issued by Ministry of Telecommunications and Information & Technology (IT). 'Modi Masjid' in Bengaluru: Is Mosque Named After the Indian Prime Minister in Karnataka Capital?
Further, the hoax messages claim that if the post is not forwarded to at least 10 contacts in the next 48 hours, the recipient's WhatsApp account would be invalidated.
To reopen the account, WhatsApp would levy a monthly charge of Rs 499 per month, the hoax message further adds.
Read Full Fake Message Below:
WhatsApp will be offFrom 11.30pm to 6:00 am daily
Declared by central govt.
Message from narendra modi (PM) we
have had an over usage of user names on whatsapp
Messenger. We are requesting all users to forward this
message to their entire contact list. If you do not forward
this message, we will take it as your account is invalid
and it will be deleted within the next 48 hours. DO
NOT ignore my words or whatsapp will no longer
recognise your activation. If you wish to re-activate your
account after it has been deleted, a charge of 499.00 will
be added to your monthly bill. We are also aware of the
issue involving the pictures updates not showing. We are
working diligently at fixing this problem and it will be up
and running as soon as possible. Thank you for your
cooperation from the modi team. WhatsApp is going
to cost you money soon. The only way that it will stay
free is if you are a frequent user i.e. you have at least 50
people you are chatting with. To become a frequent user
send this message to 10 people who receive it (2 ticks)
and your WhatsApp logo will change color.
send this to 8 people to activate the new whatsapp..
Saturday morning whatsapp will become chargeable. If you have at least 10 contacts send them this message. In this way we will see that you are an avid user and your logo will become blue (🔵) and will remain free. (As discussed in the paper today. Whatsapp will cost 0.01€ per message. Send this message to 10 people. When you do the light will turn blue
otherwise whatsapp will activate billing.
ITS TRUE ...... U get blue TICKS
Notably, a fact-check has revealed that none of the above claims in the message are true. Neither the government has imposed any restrictions, nor the social media company is mulling over imposing any charge on its users in India region.
Fact check
WhatsApp to be time-restricted; charge of Rs 499 on non-avid users.
Fake! Neither is the Narendra Modi government considering to impose any restrictions nor WhatsApp is mulling charging any of its India region users.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2019 11:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).