Tech Knock

I t’s unfortunate to hear that social media platforms that were meant to “connect” people are becoming hotbeds of fake news with harrowing consequences. Fake news regarding child kidnappings, sexual predators, and thieves spreads like fire on social networking apps. And the Facebook-owned WhatsApp is the most prominent in it. All of this has led to lynchings and killing of close to 30 innocent lives in India for past two months. On Tuesday, India’s electronics and IT ministry issued a statement in which it conveyed “deep disapproval” of such incidents to the senior management of WhatsApp. The statement stated WhatsApp couldn’t “evade accountability and responsibility.” The government has ordered WhatsApp to contain the spread of such “irresponsible and explosive messages” through the use of appropriate technology. WhatsApp had acknowledged the chilling issue in a letter sent to the government on Wednesday and said it’s working on changes to fight fake news...