Summary
Despite a lot of pressure from Indian authorities, WhatsApp has asserted that it will not trace the origin of messages. WhatsApp is not keen on doing so because it would require the company to redesign its platform. Indian authorities have been asking WhatsApp to introduce a feature that would enable the authorities to trace the origin of a message that could possibly spread misinformation. However, the company stated that introducing such a feature would mean redesigning the app in a way that
Highlights:
- WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption to its users, which means, no one, not even the company can know the contents of the conversation other the sender and the receiver.
- The popular social media app conducted a workshop in India, where the company stated that it will not introduce any feature that would enable the company to trace the origins of a message.
- "Imagine if every message you sent was kept with a record of the fact that you sent it and with a record of your phone number. That would not be a place for private communications," a WhatsApp spokesperson said on the occasion, as reported by IANS.
- The company said that it is removing over two million accounts per month for bulk or automated behaviour. "These efforts are particularly important during elections where certain groups may attempt to send messages at scale," the company said.