BFF-06 WhatsApp to limit simultaneous message forwarding to 5 chats in India

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BFF-06

INDIA-WHATSAPP-MESSAGE

WhatsApp to limit simultaneous message forwarding to 5 chats in India

NEW DELHI, July 21, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – Following concerns from Indian
government, messaging service WhatsApp said it was working towards limiting
the forwarding of messages on its service, officials said Friday.

The move apparently has been taken following the continuous reminders from
Indian government to the company to immediately contain spread of fake,
motivated and sensational messages on its platform.

“Today, we’re launching a test to limit forwarding that will apply to
everyone using WhatsApp. In India – where people forward more messages,
photos, and videos than any other country in the world – we’ll also test a
lower limit of 5 chats at once and we’ll remove the quick forward button next
to media messages,” WhatsApp in a statement said.

The decision to restrict message forwarding comes after a series of
incidents in India saw many people lynched apparently after the circulation
of fake messages on WhatsApp groups.

On Thursday Indian government send a second reminder to WhatsApp
expressing its unhappiness with the steps taken by the company and warned it
of legal action if it choose to remain “mute spectators.”

Last week one person was beaten to death and four others including a
foreign national were seriously injured by rumor driven mob in southern
Indian state of Karnataka. The lynching of the 32-year-old software engineer
was provoked after rumours of child lifting were circulated on WhatsApp
through messages, police said.

BSS/XINHUA/SSS/0849 hrs