Whatsapp - perpeterator of fake news must make changes
Whatsapp has become the biggest perpeterator of fake news in India so much so that mob lynchings and killings are happening due to fake news and this will drastically increase as elections come. Whatsapp must consider making these 4 changes immediately to their platform. Just like google email privacy we need fo demand this and Govt must lead from front.
Change #1: Users should be allowed make messages either public (media) or private (P2P message). The default setting for all messages should be private. This will impact virality on the platform, but that’s a price it will have to pay for bringing in accountability. This will create a level of friction while forwarding: they will be frustrated when they cannot forward certain messages. WhatsApp could keep a slightly different background color for public messages.
Change #2: The original sender/creator of the message should have the power to allow for a message to be forwarded (and made public). This ensures that a message that was meant to be private cannot be made public (by forwarding) without consent. It also attributes intent, when an original sender/creator chooses to make a message public. To forward even your own message to multiple people, you would have to make first make the message public.
Change #3: When a creator makes a message public, the message gets a unique ID, which gets tagged with the creators ID. This means that the message, when public, is “media” and has proper attribution to the creator, every time the message is forwarded. A log is kept by WhatsApp only if the message is public. This allows both the platform and law enforcement agencies to trace the message back to the creator. From a platform perspective, there are two things: WhatsApp is now in a position to suspend this particular account, and secondly, it can disable the message, wherever it has been forwarded.
Change #4: Allow users to report forwarded/public messages as misinformation, which can then be reviewed by WhatsApp. WhatsApp already reviews spam related complaints. Users should be able to identify the Sender and/or Message ID by selecting the message and tapping on the information (i) icon which appears. more
Change #1: Users should be allowed make messages either public (media) or private (P2P message). The default setting for all messages should be private. This will impact virality on the platform, but that’s a price it will have to pay for bringing in accountability. This will create a level of friction while forwarding: they will be frustrated when they cannot forward certain messages. WhatsApp could keep a slightly different background color for public messages.
Change #2: The original sender/creator of the message should have the power to allow for a message to be forwarded (and made public). This ensures that a message that was meant to be private cannot be made public (by forwarding) without consent. It also attributes intent, when an original sender/creator chooses to make a message public. To forward even your own message to multiple people, you would have to make first make the message public.
Change #3: When a creator makes a message public, the message gets a unique ID, which gets tagged with the creators ID. This means that the message, when public, is “media” and has proper attribution to the creator, every time the message is forwarded. A log is kept by WhatsApp only if the message is public. This allows both the platform and law enforcement agencies to trace the message back to the creator. From a platform perspective, there are two things: WhatsApp is now in a position to suspend this particular account, and secondly, it can disable the message, wherever it has been forwarded.
Change #4: Allow users to report forwarded/public messages as misinformation, which can then be reviewed by WhatsApp. WhatsApp already reviews spam related complaints. Users should be able to identify the Sender and/or Message ID by selecting the message and tapping on the information (i) icon which appears. more
Viewed by 2511
View all 21 comments Below 21 comments
Yes, it has become a platform for circulating fake news and information. Some steps need to be urgently taken by the government against this trend, as fake news being circulated through this media may cause serious social unrest disrupt the law and order of the nation. more
Jul 05
The law enforcement agencies should arrest the identified criminals in the mobs who commit such horrendous crimes and justice should be delivered by fast track courts so that people intending to commit such crimes in future would be afraid of the rule of law. These events have gone widespread only as the law itself is handicapped in dealing with such situations under the communal/social/political pressures. more
Jul 05
Why cant we ban WHATS up st troubled places, till things settle down. A partial ban is welcome more
Jul 05
1. Electronic Media's Breaking News display, repeat sensitizing the general public, Associations and Govts., Other Individuals, Associations, Groups started floating News even Fake or that aught to be restricted under Rule . 2. These are creating unrest, illusion ; enemity between classes ; issues committing affray ; Gender enemity/Vengeance ; Clashes between Religious aggressors/activists ; etc., those are Punishable under IPC . 3. These indeed also to be concluded as False evidences for Rumors opted. 4. In fact and on ground , these are such issues and Offences against Public Tranquility . 5. There are also issues of these that really fall under the prohibited imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration under IPC . 6. BUT, ALL THESE ARE GETTING ALLOWED UNDER WRONG CONTENTIONS EXEMPTED GENERALLY . Since these issues are creating public unrest, enemity , rivalry , clashes and affray , need to be Regulated for Strict Punishment . SINCE THIS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IS SO POWERFUL, FAST AND CREATE REACTIONS ATONCE , THESE ARE TO BE CODIFIED SPECIFICALLY AND COMPREHENSIVELY . more
Jul 05
