India Issues Fresh Warning To WhatsApp Over Lynching Deaths

WhatsApp could face legal action in India if it does not take further steps to tackle the spread of false rumours, the government said Thursday, in fresh criticism of the platform over a spate of lynchings.

New Delhi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jul, 2018 ) :WhatsApp could face legal action in India if it does not take further steps to tackle the spread of false rumours, the government said Thursday, in fresh criticism of the platform over a spate of lynchings.

More than 20 people have been killed by mobs in the past two months across the country after being accused of child kidnapping and other crimes in viral messages circulated on WhatsApp.

Under pressure from authorities to end the spread of "fake news", the hugely popular smartphone service has introduced new features to help users identify messages that have been forwarded.

But in a strongly worded statement released Thursday, India's information technology ministry said the action taken was not enough.

"Rampant circulation of irresponsible messages in large volumes on their platform have not been addressed adequately by WhatsApp," it said.