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Govt Pulls up WhatsApp Over Rumours Instigating Mob Lynchings, Says Apps Must Remain Responsible, Vigilant
Prasad further added that while the government welcomes social media applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, they must remain vigilant on messages instigating violence.
New Delhi, July 4: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that the government had sent a notice to WhatsApp on July 3 after it found that disinformation and provocative messages played a major role in instigating mob violence in various parts of the country. Prasad further added that while the government welcomes social media applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, they must remain vigilant on messages instigating violence.
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“We sent a notice to WhatsApp yesterday. We found that disinformation & provocative messages on WhatsApp played a major role in instigating violence. While we welcome WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook they must also remain accountable, responsible and vigilant: Union Minister,” Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The union minister further added that the government received a reply from WhatsApp from California in which they said that they have recently launched a setting within the app which would let the group admins decided who can send messages. “WhatsApp has sent us a reply from California. They also said they’re trying to see that messages aren’t forwarded without reading and understanding. I appreciate this initiative,” he said.
WhatsApp has sent us a reply from California. They say they’ve launched a setting where a group admin can decide who can send messages. They also said they’re trying to see that messages aren’t forwarded without reading&understanding. I appreciate this initiative: Ravi S Prasad pic.twitter.com/8nAd8cmLcp
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2018
With a number of mob lynching incidents being reported from across the country, the Centre on Tuesday warned WhatsApp on “irresponsible messages” being circulated through the messaging application. The Centre asked the messaging app to take immediate action to end the menace of spreading messages that impact the country’s law and order situation.
“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.
Centre’s warning to WhatsApp has come days after five people were lynched in Dhule over suspicion of being child-lifters. The police have arrested 23 people in connection with the case. “23 people have been arrested. We have also identified some more accused in this case. Five teams have been formed to identify the accused,” said Dhule SP M Ramkumar told ANI.
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