WhatsApp Head Chris Daniels had met IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad earlier in the week. when the meeting, Prasad told reporters that the govt has asked WhatsApp to set up a local company entity and find a technology answer to trace the origin of fake messages circulated through its platform likewise as appoint a grievance officer.
As WhatsApp has drawn flak over the use in spreading the fake news through its platform that has even incited incidents of mob-lynching in numerous parts of the country. Besides, the corporate is additionally running an advocacy and education programme to assist individuals spot fake news.
He acknowledged the role played by the Facebook-owned company in India’s digital story however was stern that WhatsApp might face abetment charges if it didn’t take action to tackle the problem of fake news being circulated on its platform. Daniels had declined to discuss the proceedings after the meeting.
Emphasising that individuals use its platform for all types of “sensitive conversations”, the Facebook-owned company aforesaid the main focus is on educating individuals regarding misinformation.”Building traceability would undermine end-to-end encryption and therefore the personal nature of WhatsApp, making the potential for serious misuse. WhatsApp won’t weaken the privacy protections we offer,” a WhatsApp spokesperson told PTI.
Sources in IT Ministry aforesaid that the govt has declared that WhatsApp ought to still explore technical innovations whereby just in case of mass circulation of provocative and nefarious messages inciting violence and crime, the origin are often determined. The ministry is additionally seeking a a lot of firm assurance of compliance with Indian laws from the corporate, as well as establishment of grievance officer with a large network, aforesaid the source who is accustomed to the ministry’s view on the matter. The ministry has additionally emphasized that a local company entity, subject to Indian laws, be established by the corporate in a outlined timeframe.
With general elections slated to be control next year in India, the govt is taking a stern view of the use of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp for the spread of misinformation.
As India is that the largest marketplace for WhatsApp with a base of over two hundred million users of the over 1.5 billion international user base. the govt has served 2 notices to WhatsApp, seeking details of actions it’s taken to curb the menace. In its response, WhatsApp had informed that it’s building a local team, as well as having India’s head, and has introduced new options to let its users determine forwarded messages.
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