Whatsapp and Facebook Group Admins might end up in jail
An article was published in one of South Africa'a major news outlets yesterday, stating that WhatsApp group Administrators might face jail time for their users actions.
You can read the news article here
This comes after a Group Admin was actually arrested in India last month. I am sure that a lot of us had made mistakes when posting information to an incorrect group by accident.
Mom posts nude photo posted into school hockey group by accident.
This happened to an unfortunate women Margaret when she posted a nude picture to a School Hockey group sometime last year. Shame, that was really unfortunate. I do not want to post any further info as I do not want to humiliate the poor women any further, but these things happen. I guess the best and safest way to prevent this is to not post nude pictures of yourself at all.
I do not believe you would go to jail for posting a nude photo, but when you post incorrect or misleading information it is a different story.
This is what happened in India.
Any factually incorrect, rumour or misleading information on a social media group like WhatsApp and Facebook can land the admin of the group in jail. As bizarre as it may sound, it’s true that the group admin is liable for prosecution if any rumour or fake news is circulated on it. In a bid to curb the spread of false information, a joint order was issued by District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and Senior Superintendent of Police Nitin Tiwari in Varanasi. The order stated that any content that can spark tension, the admin of the Facebook page or WhatsApp group should report to police.
You can read the full article here
In India, so many people are caught by police for silly posts, it somehow seems like there is some short of damage to the freedom of speech clause in the constitution of a democracy.
If people just acted the way they do online, in the same way they acted face to face, many social media posts would simply not be made.
Fully agree thanks @onetree
It all comes down to the argument - who is responsible? Should groups be moderated?
Imagine if someone anonymous spreads a rumor that a certain man is a pedophile. Should that be allowed to happen, or should content be checked before it is shown online?
Or should all members of a group be identifiable?
Whilst I don't think there have been many problems so far with such content, what if it becomes ubiquitous?
My feeling is that, ever so slowly, we are seeing more and more restrictions being placed on internet usage and it won't be long before we have laws making it difficult to freely post on the web.
Hmmm interesting although they should have something added to the end user agreement that you accept once installing. Otherwise if WhatsApp closed more people on at remit might come :A
Cheers and much love from me ❤︎
-Goldie
That's why I love telegram.
Hell yes! This happened on my several tines, although I didn't post any nude photos (luckily), but I did always send wrong message to the wrong person, for instance, my boss!! lol ! I dun believe the admin will go to jail tho .. I heard theres the revoke function now?
What!! It is really horrible! Why people in that country would do this to their people? Why they hate sex very much? Do they do not need any sex in everyday life? Why Nudity photo is a problem? All people are born with nude! They do not know that?
Very true statement. Thanks for the comment.
Decentralised blockchain is the answer, Period.
That is a pretty insane form of censorship. The Government threatens to have one more reason to lock you in a cage for speaking whatever on the Internet. #SteemIt #Fuck FBIbook #NoCensorship #FreeSouls
Yip, I agree, this is close to the ultimate form of censorship.
Freedom of Speech at it's best.
OMG. This is ridiculous. Often times admins of these groups forget they even created them. I better check on my I Love Banting FB group and make sure nobody is insulting MC Donalds or something. Oh lordy! :D :P
Lol
Our country is going through elections period and these whatsapp groups are used to propagate hate and breeding grounds of tribalism and violence! The
People in these groups can't report each other because they share same mindset. It's unfortunate how technology is used to spread prejudice.