WhatsApp now marks transmitted messages to curb the spread of deadly misinformation – TechCrunch



[ad_1]

WhatsApp has just introduced a new feature designed to help its users identify the origin of the information they receive in the messaging application. For the first time, a transferred WhatsApp message will include an indicator that marks it as returned. This is a small change for the messaging platform, but potentially one that could make a big difference in the way people transmit information, including questionable viral content, about the application.

The latest version of WhatsApp includes the feature, which marks the messages transferred in subtle but still difficult to miss italicized text above the contents of a message.

The transferred message designation is designed as a measure to control the spread of viral disinformation in countries such as India, where the company 200 million users. The misinformation broadcast by the application has been linked to the killing of several men who have been the target of false rumors accusing them of kidnapping children. These rumors would have spread via Facebook and WhatsApp.

Last week, the Indian Ministry of Information Technology sent a warning to WhatsApp:

Cases of lynching innocent people have been reported recently because of a large number of 39; irresponsible. Messages filled with rumors and provocation are circulating on WhatsApp. The unfortunate assassinations in many states like Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tripura and the West Bengals are deeply painful and regrettable.

While law and the order of machines take steps to apprehend the culprits, such provocative content is also a matter of deep concern. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has taken note of these irresponsible messages and their dissemination in such platforms. Deep disapproval of these developments has been passed on to WhatsApp's senior management and they have been advised that the necessary corrective actions should be taken to prevent the proliferation of these false and sometimes motivated / sensational messages. The government also ordered that the spread of these messages be immediately contained by the application of appropriate technologies.

It was also pointed out that such a platform can not escape responsibility and responsibility especially when good technological inventions are used by some miscreants. Provocative messages that lead to the spread of violence.

The government also expressed in unequivocal terms that WhatsApp must take immediate steps to end this threat and ensure that their platform is not used for such evil activities. blog article accompanying the new message feature, WhatsApp encouraged its users to stop and think before sharing a forwarded message.

[ad_2]
Source link