WhatsApp details steps to curb fake news, rumours

Facebook-owned instant messaging service WhatsApp on Wednesday listed a slew of measures aimed at preventing the spread of false information capable of inciting mob violence or creating social disharmony in India.

These measures include new updates for group chats on WhatsApp, the potential launch of a specific label to identify forwarded messages, and plans to create a new system for preventing the spread of fake news and provocative texts in consultation with academic experts and lawenforcement agents.

The measures were listed in a letter written in response to a government missive expressing “deep disapproval” of the company’s active WhatsApp users in India, as of February 2017. There are more than 1.5 billion users across the world.

“Thank you for your letter dated July 2,” WhatsApp stated in its letter.

“Like the Government of India, 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.”

Fake videos and child-lifting rumours have spurred mobs to target innocent bystanders or visitors in at least eight states, including Karnataka, Assam and Gujarat.

The most recent incident pertained to the lynching of five people in Maharashtra on Sunday, although WhatsApp’s role is yet to be ascertained in the matter. Fear of alleged child-lifters has resulted in the lynching of at least 29 people since May last year, 19 of which occurred in the last two months.

The company said it has a twopronged strategy to prevent the recurrence of such incidents: Giving people the controls and information they need to stay safe, and working proactively to prevent the misuse of WhatsApp.

NEW DELHI: