If you are social media enthusiast, I am assuming you’d be a part of many Whatsapp and Facebook groups. Well if you are, stay alert and stay updated.
If your group has members in large number, it is likely that you are an administrator (admin) of the group. But mind you, if illegitimate, forged and bogus information is shared o the group and tracked by the officials, not the sender of the message, but you (admin) may land in troubled waters.
As an administrator of a group you are in a position to be held liable for prosecution if your group comes under the radar of WhatsApp authorities. The content on social media flows freely and vigorously. More often than not, fake news spreads like wildfire that people accept it as an undeniable truth.
Social media platforms like WhatsApp are being misused for manipulation of facts and impartation of false news, morphed photos and vulgar videos. Such visuals engender uncalled for tension. It also stimulates mind towards striving for a particular task like protesting against a particular community or rash driving like superstars.
In a joint order issued by District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and Senior Superintendent of Police Nitin Tiwari, the officials have cleared the air about the slew of punishments which may ensue, if illegitimate content is shared. They have said that any piece of rumour or misleading information on a social media group could result in an FIR against the group administrator.
“There are several groups on social media which are named on news groups and also groups with other names which are propagating news and information which is not authentic. These are being forwarded without cross checking,” it said.
If the admin feels that any piece of information is unconstitutional or derogatory for any religion or country or anybody for that matter, it is his responsibility to apprise the sender of his wrongdoings or to remove him from the group. “In the event of inaction from the group admin, he or she will be considered guilty and action will be taken against the group admin,” it said.
