WhatsApp alert: Modi government officials mulling this to bring tech giant under control

In the wake of a number of lynching and rioting incidents triggered by fake news spread through social media platforms like WhatsApp, the government has started deliberations on ways to bring heads of these companies under the ambit of the law, reports DNA. It further quotes sources as saying that the lawmakers have been discussing on whether the owners of social media outlets can be booked under criminal charges. 

According to the report, a deliberation on the matter took place at an inter-ministerial committee meeting chaired by home secretary Rajiv Gauba. They discussed whether social media owners can be booked under criminal laws for promoting and spreading the fake news through their platforms. Though no consensus could be reached, says the report. The matter has been pointed to Union Hime Minister Rajnath Singh, who heads a group of ministers (GoM) looking into lynching incidents across the country. 

The inter-ministerial committee has submitted its recommendations to the group of ministers. The report says that provisions to make existing laws more stringent are likely to be taken up by Singh.  

In July, the Union government had asked WhatsApp to look for solutions beyond labelling forward messages to stop the spread of fake news on its platform. 

"When rumours and fake news get propagated by mischief mongers, the medium used for such propagation cannot evade responsibility and accountability. If they remain mute spectators they are liable to be treated as abettors and thereafter face consequent legal action," the IT Ministry said in a statement today," an IT Minister statement had said. 

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Last month, WhatsApp had turned down the government's demand to provide it with a solution to track the origin of messages on its platform.