referring to Satish Bhaykre, 21, who was beaten by a mob due to a fake WhatsApp text, poses inside his house on the outskirts of Nagpur, India, June 23, 2018. So far this year, false messages about child abductors on Facebook Inc-owned WhatsApp have helped to trigger mass beatings of more than a dozen people in India - at least three of whom have died. In addition, fake messages about child snatchers on Facebook, as well as some texts on WhatsApp, also led to the lynching of two men in eastern India earlier this month. Story continues below advertisement"Sadly some people also use WhatsApp to spread harmful misinformation," WhatsApp said in a statement. WhatsApp messages on organ thieves or child abductions are just the tip of the iceberg though - fake reports can range from incorrect medical advice to news about top jobs.
Report: India may send second WhatsApp notice over violence
Facing a problem of mob violence rapidly spreading with the help of social media, India's government may send a second notice to WhatsApp (NASDAQ:FB), seemingly dissatisfied with an initial response to warnings to curb "explosive messages filled with rumors." WhatsApp is being challenged with clamping down on false reports spread via the network that are resulting in lynchings. More than 33 Indians have been killed in 18 months after online rumors about child safety, India Spend says. If WhatsApp can selectively target specific audiences for narrow advertisements, the government seems to believe, it can take better action against groups where provocative rumors are stirring up. India's government seems to be in no hurry to OK WhatsApp payments until it sees action on this issue, the Economic Times suggests.WhatsApp Arms Itself for Payments in India
as informed in With over 200 million active users, WhatsApp is now set to launch WhatsApp payments in India. UPI enabledTo have a mass approach for its payments feature, WhatsApp had partnered with National Payments Council of India and adhered to the rules and regulations for the rollout of the feature. WhatsApp's payments feature will be UPI enabled and will also "reflect the addition of payment interoperability features". In a statement released to the press, WhatsApp said, "We'll be updating our WhatsApp payments Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to provide simpler language on how the payments feature operates. We look forward to expanding WhatsApp payments soon."24-hour customer serviceThe messaging platform is cautiously venturing into the payments space.Viral WhatsApp Messages Are Triggering Mob Killings In India
Viral WhatsApp Messages Are Triggering Mob Killings In IndiaEnlarge this image toggle caption Lauren Frayer/NPR Lauren Frayer/NPRIram Sabah, mother of two, is terrified by messages her family has been receiving on their smartphones. "When my children go outside to play, I'm really scared," she says in an interview at her home in western India. Such videos and messages — many of them fake or photoshopped — have gone viral across India, spread mostly on WhatsApp, a messaging tool owned by Facebook. Locals feared they were the kidnappers all these WhatsApp messages had warned of — and attacked them. The problem of mob justice in India isn't confined to poor people, or rural dwellers, or first-time smartphone users.
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