WhatsApp is facing flak over the misuse of the platform for spreading fake news that has led to increase in mob-violence in India. In recent times, most of the mob-lynching cases that have happened in India are due to rumors of child-lifting gangs operating in various parts of the country and most of these rumors were spread through WhatsApp. Increase in incidents of mob-lynching has resulted in huge protest from a particular section of society and media. The incidents were used to peddle their political agenda and not to educate the people regarding fake news and rumors. Such people wait for mob-lynching incidents to take place so that they can launch their vulture politics, and because of this attitude, fake news and rumor circulation is only increasing in India, especially via WhatsApp.
The Government of India has asked WhatsApp to take steps to curb the menace of fake news and rumor circulation. The company has now responded by saying that it is building a local team, including India head, dedicated to solving the problem of fake news. However, it has failed to fulfill the key demand of government to identify message originators. It has failed to meet the government’s expectations on ‘traceability’ and attribution of such messages.
A Whatsapp spokesperson told PTI, “To support our users in India and continue our investment in the country, it’s our top priority to hire a local leader who can help us build a team on the ground.” He further added, “People rely on WhatsApp for all kinds of sensitive conversations, including with their doctors, banks and families. The police also use WhatsApp to discuss investigations and report crimes.” He continued, “Attributing messages on WhatsApp would undermine the private nature of WhatsApp and create the potential for serious misuse. Our focus is on improving WhatsApp and working closely with others in society to help keep people safe.”
On mob-violence, WhatsApp said that it requires government, civil society, and technology companies to work in tandem. WhatsApp said, “It’s why we’ve already made significant product changes to help slow the spread of misinformation and are working to educate people on how to spot fake news.”
Over the last few weeks the messaging app has brought a number of changes to let its users identify the forwarded messages, put the limit on number of forwards at a time, and came up with full-page ads giving “easy tips” to identify fake news.
However, IT ministry is not satisfied with WhatsApp’s effort. It has asked the messaging app to come up with more effective solutions in order to ensure greater “accountability and facilitate enforcement of the law”.
The IT Ministry is right in its concerns for the new features introduced by WhatsApp are not enough to stop the circulation of fake news and rumor. It should introduce other features where a particular message can be reported and it should make a bigger team of moderation to address the complaints more seriously and adequately. In order to make the messaging app more user friendly, it needs to take some serious steps to curb the menace of fake news and rumor circulation.