Electronics and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on the WhatsApp's response to the government's stern message to be accountable for the fake messages that led to several people being lynched.


Prasad said, "We sent a notice to WhatsApp yesterday. We found that disinformation and provocative messages on WhatsApp played a major role in instigating violence. While we welcome WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook, they must also remain accountable, responsible and vigilant."


He added that WhatsApp has sent the government a reply from California saying they've launched a setting where a group admin can decide who can send messages. "They also said they're trying to see that messages aren't forwarded without reading and understanding. I appreciate this initiative."


India told Facebook-owned WhatsApp to take "immediate action" after a spate of horrific lynchings sparked by false rumours being shared on the hugely popular smartphone messaging service. More than 25 people have been killed in India in recent months after rumours were spread on smartphones about child kidnappers, thieves and sexual predators.

Reacting to this news, WhatsApp responded to the Government of Indias letter on rumours spread via the app and said, Like the Government of India, were horrified by these terrible acts of violence and wanted to respond quickly to the very important issues you have raised. We believe this is a challenge that requires government, civil society, and technology companies to work together.


Image: RAF disperses protesters in Jamshedpur last week. Parents in four areas of Jamshedpur stopped sending their children to schools or even outdoors over rumours of child lifters. Photo: PTI