With general elections scheduled to be held one year from now in India, the Indian Government is taking a strict prospect of the utilization of various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp for the spread of prevarication of information.
In the light of the same it had requested from WhatsApp for a solution for track the outset of messages on its platform.
The Facebook owned firm though declined to comply with the government's request saying that the move will undermine the protection and privacy of WhatsApp users.
Sources in the IT Ministry have said that the administration has declared that WhatsApp should keep on exploring the specialized technical advancements whereby if there should be an occurrence of mass circulation of offensive and detestable messages whipping up clashes and delinquency, the outset can be figured out easily.
The ministry is additionally looking for an all the more firm affirmation of the assent with Indian laws from the company, along with the foundation of grievance officer with a wide framework.
Accentuation has been given to the fact that a local corporate entity, subject to Indian laws, ought to be set up by the company in the outlined time period.
Prior this week the WhatsApp Head Chris Daniels got together with the IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for tending issues similar to this one. After the gathering, Mr. Prasad said that the legislature has requested that WhatsApp set up a local corporate entity and uncover a technological solution in order to ascertain the outset of the phony messages circled through its platform simultaneously commission a grievance officer.
“People rely on WhatsApp for all kinds of sensitive conversations, including with their doctors, banks and families. Building traceability would undermine end-to-end encryption and the private nature of WhatsApp, creating potential for serious misuse,” the Facebook-owned firm said on Thursday.
“WhatsApp will not weaken the privacy protections we provide,” a company spokesperson stressed, adding, “Our focus remains working closely with others in India to educate people about misinformation and help keep people safe.”
A month ago, WhatsApp top administrators, including COO Matthew Idema, met IT Secretary and other Indian government authorities to summarize the several different advances being taken by the company on this issue.
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