Facebook Global Executive Nick Clegg has proposed a 'prospective' mechanism for WhatsApp to act on cases flagged by law enforcement ncies. However, government has refused to budge on its demand for traceability of messs.

Resisting demands for identification of mess originators

issue of traceability has been a flashpoint between government and WhatsApp. Facebook-owned messaging platform has so far resisted India's demand for identification of mess originators, on pretext that doing so would undermine and compromise its policy on privacy and end-to-end encryption.

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A senior government official said that Facebook Vice-President, Global Affairs and Communications, Nick Clegg, during his meeting with IT Minister Ravi Shankar Pras last week mooted alternatives to absolute traceability of messs, including use of 'meta data' and machine intelligence for dealing with issue. According to official, he even offered ways to harness WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook links to provide assistance to law enforcement ncies.

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When contacted, a Facebook spokesperson said, "Facebook cares deeply about safety of people in India and Nick's meetings this week provided opportunities to discuss our commitment to supporting privacy and security in every app we provide and how we can continue to work productively with Government of India towards se shared goals." A person aware of WhatsApps's position on matter furr emphasised that platform cant re messs exchanged as y are encrypted.

It is learnt that Clegg, in meetings with top authorities, including Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security visor Ajit Doval as well as IT Minister Ravi Shankar Pras on September 12, reiterated US tech giant's stance that it will abide by any lawful request for information by Indian government, but it cant re messs exchanged on its platforms.

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According to a source, Clegg told officials that company can provide 'signals' and meta data such as to whom calls were me to and duration of calls, among ors, of lawfully identified users. US social media giant has agreed to provide India with 'meta data' of any user of its platforms, including WhatsApp, that government lawfully identifies but has insisted that it cant look into messs exchanged as y are encrypted. India is home to 400 million WhatsApp users and more than 328 million Facebook users. Social media companies in India have drawn flak from government in recent past over instances of circulation of fake news, breach of user confidentiality, unauthorised data sharing by apps and concerns over privacy and data security.

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Government wants to curb spre of fake news

WhatsApp, in particular, has been under fire over users misusing platform for circulation of fake news that have incited mob fury. Indian government has me it clear that it intends to strengn legal framework and make social media platforms more accountable under law.

(With PTI inputs)