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Why should a messaging provider be responsible for the content of private messages users send each other? Can you elaborate on what event you are referring to

• gamblor956 8y ago
  In India, South Africa, Egypt, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, there have been multiple instances of lynch mobs killing innocent men accused of organ harvesting or kidnapping via messages forwarded through WhatsApp. WhatsApp was used to organize religious mobs in India resulting in the deaths of dozens. WhatsApp is currently being used by the BJP in India to organize criminal campaigns of harassment against non-Hindus, cattle farmers, and even simply those who criticize or politically oppose the BJP. After roughly a dozen men were killed in lynch mobs, Facebook was pressured into making changes to WhatsApp, including limiting how many times a message could be forwarded, and to who. Facebook also forced WhatsApp to add a unique identifier to messages so that chains could be traced to their source, so that future instigators of mob violence could be prosecuted. The WhatsApp founder disagreed with these changes and promptly began badmouthing Facebook. But almost immediately after those changes were implemented, the lynch mobs stopped. Note that it's pretty easy to get around the unique identifier. WhatsApp is tied to a phone number, so criminal and political organizations can just buy burner sims for use with WhatsApp. But it does make a huge difference out in the countryside, where most people can barely afford a single sim card, let alone a burner to use for trolling.
  • BubRoss 8y ago
    Do you blame the phone companies for crimes organized by phone calls?