India urges WhatsApp to take swift action after mob lynchings

File picture: Reuters/Dado Ruvic

File picture: Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Published Jul 4, 2018

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New Delhi - The Indian government said on Wednesday it wants

social media platform WhatsApp to take swift action to stop the

spread of fake messages that have been linked to mob lynchings in the

country.

India has witnessed a series of mob lynching cases over the past

year, with a spurt in recent months, which police say were sparked by

rumours spread on social media that child kidnappers were on the

prowl.

Local media has reported 23 such killings by mobs in states across

India between May 9 and July 1. Several of the victims were migrant

labourers and beggars.

"Instances of lynching of innocent people have been noticed recently

because large number of irresponsible and explosive messages filled

with rumours and provocation are being circulated on WhatsApp,"

India's Information Technology Ministry had said in a statement on

Tuesday.

It said it had conveyed its deep disapproval to the senior management

at WhatsApp and advised it to take measures "to prevent proliferation

of these fake and at times motivated/sensational messages."

WhatsApp had sent a reply to the government on the measures it was

taking and plans it would carry out, ministry spokesman NN Kaul said.

"The Indian government is satisfied with their response but we want

them to implement their assurances at the earliest."

"These messages should not be difficult to contain through

application of appropriate technology," Kaul said.

DPA

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