IMPORTANT: Maharashtra cyber cell issues Covid advisory for WhatsApp users & group admins

Maharashtra government on Wednesday anunced an advisory for WhatsApp Users and Admins during COVID-19 pandemic in order to counter growing cases of rumours and fake news that is creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion among citizens.

Forwarding and spreading of "false and mischievious news" would attract punitive action. Providing/forwarding misleading information related to severity/magnitude of epidemic which may lead to panic will be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine, according to new advisory released on April 8.

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Advisory for WhatsApp users and Admins is as follows:

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Dos and Donts for Admins and Members of WhatsApp or or messaging platforms:

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AS A MEMBER OF GROUPS IN MESSAGING PLATFORMS

• Do t post fake news, hate speech or misinformation in groups
• Do t furr forward or circulate any such news you get from or members of group
• Immediately delete any post, if you find it objectionable or admin tified you
• Check source and veracity of any news/im/video/meme you receive, before posting it on group
• If you find any piece of misinformation, fake news or hate speech, report it on www.cybercrime.gov.in or to your nearest police station and also inform your group admin immediately.
• Never share any content that is violent, porgraphic and discriminative against any religion/community.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AS AN ADMIN OF MESSAGING PLATFORMS

• Ensure that every group member is reliable and responsible eugh to share only verified news
• Inform all group members about rules of posting in group
• Warn all members and prevent m from sharing objectionable content
• Actively and regularly monitor content that is being shared on group
• It is advisable that if group is uncontrollable, n group settings can be changed to only where admins have right to post
• Inform police if any members resort to mischief and share objectionable content

A day earlier, Facebook-owned WhatsApp had proactively disallowed forwarding of frequently-forwarded messs to more than one person at a time, amid Pandemic.