After a series of lynchings, the government warns WhatsApp against the spread of hate messages

The government today ordered WhatsApp to immediately take steps to prevent the spread of "irresponsible and explosive messages," claiming that the social media platform could not escape responsibility in a series lynching cases.

WhatsApp was also prompted to immediately contain the spread of these messages through the application of technology, even though the law and order of the machines takes steps to apprehend the culprits. Noting that the perpetrators repeatedly broadcast provocative messages triggering a wave of violence, the government said today that it "has expressed in clear terms that WhatsApp must take immediate steps to put an end to this threat." and make sure their platform is not used for such malafide activities. "

Transmitting his deep disapproval to the highest ranking WhatsApp, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) said the company owned by Facebook "can not escape responsibility ", according to the official statement. Contacted, a WhatsApp spokesperson told PTI: "WhatsApp cares deeply about the safety of people and their ability to communicate freely."

"We do not want our services to be used to spread misinformation. For example, we have recently made a number of updates to our group discussions and will intensify our efforts to help people spot false news and hoaxes, "said the spokesperson in a statement. India is the largest market for WhatsApp with over 200 million users.

In a separate statement today, WhatsApp said it would institute awards for research on the WhatsApp. spread of misinformation on its platform.The government warning to WhatsApp comes as a result of a series of incidents involving the lynching of innocent people due to some "fake and motivated" messages circulating on the widely used email application.

Last week, five people were lynched in the Dhule district of Maharashtra, because they were suspected of being part of a gang of Lev In a similar incident in Tripura recently, two people were lynched and six others were beaten. Assam, too, witnessed a case of lynching last month on similar grounds.

Describing the "unfortunate mbadacres" in states like Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tripura and West Bengal, "deeply painful and regrettable" Today, said L & # 8239; Abuse of platforms like WhatsApp "for the repeated circulation of this provocative content" is a subject of deep concern. "MEITY has taken note of these irresponsible messages and their dissemination in such platforms." A deep disapproval of these developments has been pbaded on to the WhatsApp management and they have been informed that the necessary corrective measures should be taken to prevent the proliferation of these false and sometimes motivated / sensational messages, "the statement said.