WhatsApp warned against misuse of its platform after lynching cases
new delhi — The government has asked WhatsApp to take immediate action to end the menace of spreading messages that impact the country’s law and order situation and ensure that the platform is not used for such malafide activities, an official statement said here on Tuesday.
“Instances of lynching of innocent people have been noticed recently because of large number of irresponsible and explosive messages filled with rumours and provocation are being circulated on WhatsApp. The unfortunate killing in many states such as Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tripura and west Bengals are deeply painful and regrettable,” the statement from the IT Ministry said.
So far this year, false messages about child abductors on WhatsApp have helped to trigger mass beatings of more than a dozen people in India — at least three of whom have died.
In addition, five people were beaten to death by a mob on Sunday in a fresh incident of lynching in India’s western state of Maharashtra on suspicions that they were child abductors.
The ministry has taken serious note of irresponsible messages and their circulation in such platforms.
The ministry said law enforcement authorities were taking steps to apprehend culprits responsible for the killings but the repeated
WhatsApp must take immediate action to end this menace and ensure that their platform is not used for such malafide activities.
IT Ministry
flow of fake news messages on WhatsApp was also a matter of deep concern. It also said that messaging platform “cannot evade accountability and responsibility” when such services are abused by users to spread misinformation.
“The government has also conveyed in no uncertain terms that WhatsApp must take immediate action to end this menace and ensure that their platform is not used for such malafide activities,” it added.
The government has also directed that spread of such messages should be immediately contained through the application of appropriate technology. — IANS, Reuters