WhatsApp, Facebook group admins can now get jailed for fake news

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If you’re a WhatsApp or Facebook group admin in India, and you’re found sharing or letting a factually incorrect, a rumour or a misleading piece of information slip past you on any of your groups, you’re liable for jail term.  The order said: “There are several groups on social media which are named on newsgroups and also groups with other names which are propagating news and information which is not authentic. These are being forwarded without cross checking..” Concerns have been raised about social media misuse as fake news, morphed photographs and disturbing videos with fabricated local narratives can easily be circulated that can trigger tension and even communal rift in an area. 

whatsapp-fb-e1472203252716 The District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and Senior Superintendent of Police Nitin Tiwari have issued a joint order stating that any factually incorrect, rumour or misleading information on a social media group could result in an FIR against the administrator. here are over 200 million Whatsapp users in India, and the order calls for all group administrators to be responsible and self-police their chats. “The administrator must include only those members who are personally known to him or her,” the order says, adding that it’s the admin’s duty to remove offensive chats before they can spread, and report it to the nearest police station so that action can be taken against the member under the law.

The administration has directed that no statement or post which can hurt religious sentiments should be forwarded to any other group or person else legal action will be taken. It is also under cyber crime law, Information Technology Act and Indian Penal Code will be filed in case of violation of these guidelines. The order also made it clear that orders of Supreme Court and various high courts will be considered while initiating action. So, if you are group admin then you should be really careful and should closely monitor the content being flowed in the group or else you will be in trouble. However, it would be interesting to see how effectively this order is implemented in the virtual world.

Imagecopyright by sociofly.com, ciol.com

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