The government has sent a second letter to messaging platform Whatsapp on Thursday asking for "more effective solutions" that can bring in "accountability and facilitate enforcement of law" in the wake of rising incidents of rumours on Whatsapp triggering lynchingincidents in the country.
This comes after the ministry of electronics and IT (MEITY) had sent out a stern warning to WhatsApp earlier this month, asking the Facebook-owned messaging platform to immediately stop the spread of “irresponsible and explosive messages filled with rumours and provocation” on its platform. The messaging platform has responded to the government letter saying that it will use a mix of technology along with new features to identify forwarded messages and work with fact checkers and academia to address the isue.
In a press statement, MEITY said on Thursday, "Whatsapp has been requested today to come out with more effective solutions that can bring in accountability and facilitate enforcement of law in addition to their efforts towards labeling forwards and identifying fake news." It added that it has been conveyed to the company "in unmistakable terms" that it is a very serious issue which deserves a more sensitive response.
"There is a need for bringing in traceability and accountability when a provocative or inflammatory message is detected and a request is made by law enforcement agencies. When rumours and fake news get propagated by mischief mongers, the medium used for such propagation cannot evade responsibility and accountability." It added that if they remain "mute spectators" they are liable to be treated as "abettors" and thereafter face consequent legal action.
At least 31 people have been killed over the last one year in 10 states including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra by crowds mobilised by rumours of spread over WhatsApp. The statement added that subsequently in Bidar a 32 year old software engineer Mohammed Azam was killed and this was preceded by viral circulation of rumours on Whatsapp about child lifters. "It is regretted that the enormity of the challenge and the rampant abuse happening in the country leading to repeated commissioning of crimes pursuant to rampant circulation of irresponsible messages in large volumes on their platform have not been addressed adequately by Whatsapp."
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