With highend security on the potential of private messenging apps to spread misinformation related to the coronavirus, WhatsApp said it would place new limits on the forwarding of messages. Starting from today, messages that have been “highly forwarded” — sent through a chain of five or more people — can only be forwarded to a single person. The move is designed to reduce the speed with which misinformation spreads through WhatsApp, putting truth and fiction on a more even footing.
“We know many users forward helpful information, as well as funny videos/memes/reflections or prayers they find meaningful. Now-a-days, WhatsApp is being used to organize public moments of support for front-line health workers,” officials said.
“However, we’ve seen a significant increase in the amount of forwards which users have told us can feel overwhelming and can contribute to the spread of misinformation. We believe it’s important to slowdown the speed of spread of these messages down to keep WhatsApp a safe place for personal conversation.”
It was easy for users to forward a message to around 256 people with just a few taps. at first, these messages were not being labeled as forward, and the end-2-end encryption in app could make it almost unbearable for authorities to find out who might be using WhatsApp to spread fake news or calls to violence. This triggered a crisis in India, where WhatsApp was linked to main violence.
Two years ago, WhatsApp began experimenting with limits on the number of times a message could be forwarded. It also began labeling forwarded messages for the first time, and adding two arrows to show that a message has been repeatedly forwarded. Last year, the company began limiting the number of people you can forward a single message to five person.
But amid a huge flow in use related to the COVID-19, WhatsApp has come under the spotlight for the way it can be used to spread misinformation. Last month, few news organizations found that whatsapp had been used to share false information about “cures” for COVID-19 and hoaxes about military activities. The prime minister of Ireland urged his people to “please stop sharing unverified info on Whatsapp groups.”
In response, WhatsApp used a bot created by World Health Organization that provides necessary information about the COVID-19 that has been vetted by healthcare professionals. The app has been used by more than 10 million people.
