Published 17:58 IST, February 6th 2019
How WhatsApp Is Fighting Bulk Messaging and Automated Behavior, Before The Indian General Elections 2019
WhatsApp's measures include fact-checking, grievance officer, ability to exit a group with a single tap, and more.
Popular instant messaging app WhatsApp has now stated that it has resorted to product changes in a bid to make the overall app experience effective and safe for use; especially with this new year representing the election year as far as the Indian political scenario is concerned.
WhatsApp has even released a whitepaper detailing its measures to curb issues such as fake news, compromise of user security/privacy, and even responsible usage of the platform.
“In the run-up to the 2019 national election, WhatsApp has made significant product changes and worked with partners across civil society to address the harmful consequences of misinformation,” stated folks at WhatsApp in the new whitepaper.
The above involves a three-pronged method (predominant among other approaches listed) such as:
Ability to exit a group with just a single tap: In case you think that you have been added to a group by a user not amongst your contacts, or to an unknown group which you consider “malicious”, then upon your adding to the group WhatsApp would display a warning asking you to “report” and even “exit the group”. You could choose either of these options to potentially stay safe from unwanted content.
Grievance Officer: “We have identified a Grievance Officer who can be contacted directly if a user has a concern about their WhatsApp experience and is unable to report it through other channels,” add folks at WhatsApp. This means that there would be an actual human present to record your grievances and assist in getting these addressed.
Political Party Education: Beginning from the state elections to five states in 2018, WhatsApp states that political parties have been briefed to first obtain user consent before sending them messages; lest the account of the former gets banned. We will expand this effort and work with the Election Commission of India in the lead up to the national election in 2019,”
Updated 18:08 IST, February 6th 2019