Latest News

WhatsApp to limit message forwarding to 5 chats in India to curb fake news circulation
Friday, July 20, 2018 IST
WhatsApp to limit message forwarding to 5 chats in India to curb fake news circulation

WhatsApp today said its users in India will not be allowed to forward more than five chats at once and the company will remove the quick forward button that appears next to media messages, as part of its efforts to reduce circulation of fake messages on the platform that have even incited mob lynching incidents.

 
 

WhatsApp today said its users in India will not be allowed to forward more than five chats at once and the company will remove the quick forward button that appears next to media messages, as part of its efforts to reduce circulation of fake messages on the platform that have even incited mob lynching incidents. In a blogpsot, WhatsApp noted that its users in India “forward more messages, photos, and videos, than any other country in the world”. The Facebook-owned company has over one billion users globally, of which over 200 million are in India.
 
“Today, we’re launching a test to limit forwarding that will apply to everyone using WhatsApp. In India… we’ll also test a lower limit of five chats at once and we’ll remove the quick forward button next to media messages,” the blogpost said. WhatsApp has received flak from the Indian government over fake news and false information being circulated on its messaging platform. Such messages have incited mob-fury, triggering multiple cases of lynching across the country. Yesterday, the government shot off a second notice to WhatsApp asking it to come out with effective solutions to curb the menace of fake news beyond just labelling forwards.
 
It also warned the company that mediums used for propagation of rumours are liable to be treated as ‘abettors’ and can face legal consequences if they remain “mute spectators”. While the company is yet to respond to the notice, the blogpost said the company believes that “these changes – which we’ll continue to evaluate – will help keep WhatsApp the way it was designed to be: a private messaging app”.
 
“We built WhatsApp as a private messaging app – a simple, secure, and reliable way to communicate with friends and family. And as we’ve added new features, we’ve been careful to try and keep that feeling of intimacy, which people say they love,” it said. WhatsApp had introduced the option of forwarding multiple chats at once a few years ago, it added. “We are deeply committed to your safety and privacy which is why WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, and we’ll continue to improve our app with features like this one,” the blog said.
 
WhatsApp had previously stated that it had launched new safety features, including a label that clearly identifies forwarded messages and controls for group conversations in the last few weeks. The messaging service also brought out full-page advertisement in leading newspapers, first in the series of its user awareness campaign, giving “easy tips” to decide if information received is indeed true. It is also working with over half a dozen partners in India to design a digital literacy programme for educating users on spotting false news and staying safe on the popular messaging platform, which has come under fire for fake messages inciting mob lynching incidents.
 
In its response to the first notice by the Indian government, WhatsApp had said fake news, misinformation and hoaxes can be checked by the government, civil society and technology companies “working together”. Outlining steps it has taken to curb abuse of its platform, WhatsApp — in its response sent earlier this month — had said that it has the ability to prevent spam but since it cannot see the content of private messages, blocking can be done only based on user reports.
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
Nanda Vrata – Nanda Vrat Dedicated to Shiva – How To Observe?

Nanda Vrata is dedicated to Shiva and it is believed that Goddess Sati observed this vrat to get Shiva as her husband. It is observed during Phalgun Shukla Paksha...

Recently posted . 16K views . 3 min read
 

 Article
The mysterious Radha and her last meeting with Krishna !!!

This question has seeked me ever since I can remember ...from my childhood..in my dreams...in my realisation and my internal assimilation of Lord Krishna as my god....

Recently posted . 8K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Lord Shiva in this form killed Lord Vishnu's avatar Narasimha!

Story of Sharabha and Narasimha   In Hinduism, the ‘trimurti’ (Gods) - Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, are...

Recently posted . 6K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
The Lemon Message

  Have any of you realised how beneficial and helpful the lemon is when kept in a transparent glass of water, what it does? Here is the lemon ...

Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
 

 
 

More in Electronics & Gadgets

 Article
From Fauji to Zero, Shah Rukh Khan thanks Gauri Khan, Aanand L Rai for emotional video

In an emotional new video shared by his wife Gauri Khan, Shah Rukh Khan reflects on his 26 career in Bollywood, and how he went from being a ‘Fauji’ a...

Recently posted. 958 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Hollywood actresses, college administrators arrested in huge US college admissions scandal

WASHINGTON: Nearly 50 people including two Hollywood actresses, college administrators, and sports coaches have been taken into custody by authorit...

Recently posted. 688 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Farhan, Shyam Benegal and Ashoke Pandit slam CBFC over Lipstick Under My Burkha row

Slamming CBFC’s move to “refuse” certification of Prakash Jha’s Lipstick Under My Burkha, Farhan Akhtar, Shyam Benegal and Ashoke Pandit hav...

Recently posted. 722 views . 33 min read
 

 Article
Free Amazon Packages Keep Coming to This Couple - And They Want It to Stop

The first items to arrive were the plastic fan - which plugs into your computer's USB port - and the phone charger that doubles as an electric hand warmer.

Recently posted. 710 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
I Am Proud of Who I Am: Karan Johar on Sexual Orientation

Karan Johar said today that he was not "embarrassed" but "proud" of his sexuality, asserting that it's his orientation which defines him.

Recently posted. 642 views . 1 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

Beautiful Things Are Not Always Good But Good Things Are Always Beautiful ......
Anonymous

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top