WhatsApp has a series of unexpected restrictions imposed by the authorities who have reached the end of their powers regarding the problems with the false information distributed through the messaging platform. We are talking about India, a country where WhatsApp is used by over 20% of the country's population for communication, and unfortunately the messages distributed through the platform have led to dozens of crimes committed by people manipulated with fake news.
WhatsApp failed to control the situation in India, so the authorities decided to impose a series of new rules for groups led by journalists, being the strictest imposed anywhere in the world. Specifically, journalists who administer WhatsApp groups and distribute information through them, will have to register with the police with their full name, address, a photo, and the phone number used on the platform, along with information about the number of active users there.
WhatsApp: RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE AUTHORITIES
WhatsApp is not involved in any way in creating these rules, but the authorities oblige the administrators of the groups not to allow people to enter the groups without their consent, and to moderate any kind of provocative comments. The administrator is responsible for the messages published in that WhatsApp group, and will be prosecuted if he allows the publication, or distributes, of messages that incite hatred on religious, political or any other grounds.
"Our move has been appreciated by everyone, including the local media. There is a lobby of fake journalists who are trying to take advantage of such groups to harass people and extort money. Our aim is to control such persons and not the media."
WhatsApp is not involved in this whole story in any way, everything being the fault of the authorities in India, and what they are doing there could have repercussions at the global level, if it is successful. Indians have almost reached the end of their powers, and patience, regarding the WhatsApp platform and what is happening there, so this is the only solution left to stop the distribution of false information on the platform, and to stop the crimes that are still taking place .
