WhatsApp at odds and evens in effort to trace messages

WhatsApp is building an India team to check fake news circulation but is yet to meet the core demand of identifying message originators, according to official sources.

The instant-messaging app is under fire over abuse of its platform for circulation of fake news that have fed false rumours to mobs resulting in lynchings across the country. The IT Ministry official said that WhatsApp has responded to the government’s notice, outlining initiatives being taken to curb fake news circulation including education and advocacy efforts.

It is also building a local team, with an India head, the official said, though he said the measures do not meet the government’s expectations on ‘traceability’ and attribution of such messages.

WhatsApp, on its part, has maintained that message attributions would “undermine the private nature” of the platform, and leave it vulnerable potentially to “serious misuse”, a company official said.

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A WhatsApp spokesperson said: “To support our users in India and continue our investment in the country, it’s our top priority to hire a local leader who can help us build a team on the ground.” The two senior leadership roles that are currently open for India are  Head of India and Head of Policy.