INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesWhatsApp is limiting all its members to forwarding any single message up to five times in an effort to tackle the
spread of false information on the platform
The Facebook-owned business had already introduced the policy in India six months ago.The move followed a number of mob lynchings that were
blamed on fake reports spread via the service.Until now, users elsewhere could forward messages up to 20 times.The update to the app's
rules was announced at an event in Jakarta, Indonesia
The country is holding its general election in April.The firm told the TheIndianSubcontinent it had made its decision after "carefully"
evaluating the results of its half-year-long test in the country."The forward limit significantly reduced forwarded messages around the
world," a spokeswoman added."[This] will help keep WhatsApp focused on private messaging with close contacts
We'll continue to listen to user feedback about their experience, and over time, look for new ways of addressing viral content."Up to 256
users can be enrolled in a WhatsApp group
So, theoretically, a single user can now only forward a message up to 1,280 other individuals rather than the 5,120 people figure that had
been possible previously.There is nothing, however, to stop those on the receiving end each forwarding the message up to five times
themselves.The restriction comes at a time WhatsApp and Facebook's other services are under scrutiny for their role in the spread of
propaganda and other untruths online.Last week, Facebook announced it had removed 500 pages and accounts allegedly involved in peddling fake
news in Central Europe, Ukraine and other Eastern European nations.It also recently announced that it had employed a UK-fact-checking
service to flag content on its main platform.However, the use of end-to-end encryption by WhatsApp means its messages can only be read by
their senders and recipients, limiting the firm's ability to spot false reports
But at the end of last year, the Indian press reported that the government was considering a change to the law that would force Facebook to
police WhatsApp for "unlawful" content
This would challenge its use of the encryption technology.
