WhatsApp group admins change settings to curb fake messages

Indore, Apr 7 () Administrators of thousands ofWhatsApp groups here in Madhya Pradesh have changed theirgroup settings, prohibiting other members from posting anymessage following the district administration's order to curbfake news and posts during the coronavirus crisis.

Indore Collector Manish Singh issued an order onMonday, directing the administrators of all WhatsApp groups inthe district to restrict the posts of other members.

Hence, the group administrators have changed thesettings so as to authorise only them to post messages on theplatform.

"Government officials engaged in dealing with thecoronavirus outbreak were facing several problems due toflooding of fake news, inflammatory messages and rumours onsocial media. Hopefully, this order will help in preventingthe spread of misinformation on social media," a districtadministration official told .

Cases have been registered in two police station areasof the city under the Indian Penal Code and InformationTechnology Act for spreading fake messages regardingcoronavirus on social media, Additional Superintendent ofPolice (Crime Branch) Rajesh Dandotia said.

So far, three persons, including two WhatsApp groupadministrators, have been arrested here in connection withthese cases, he said.

Earlier, the police got clues that the April 1incident of stone-pelting in Tatpatti Bakhal area here tookplace following rumours spread on the social media.

Two women doctors were injured after stones werepelted at them when they went in the area for contact tracingof COVID-19 patients.

So far, 151 coronavirus cases have been reportedIndore, which is an industrial hub. Of these, 13 people havedied during treatment. HWP ADU MASGK GK