https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/09/whats...
besides that, the ruling party actively uses whatsapp for political reasons, with it's infamous "It Cell" known for manufacturing fake news. https://theprint.in/politics/9500-it-cell-heads-72000-whatsa...
So much so, that the current Home Minsiter of India, Amit Shah was seen in public bragging about the power of the IT Cell to "We can keep making messages go viral, whether they are real or fake, sweet or sour" https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/amit-shah-real-fake-c...
But what would you actually have anyone do about WhatsApp? It's an end-to-end encrypted messaging app, and the whole purpose of end-to-end encryption (which, last I checked, HN was generally in favour of) is that there is no way to surveil or moderate the content of someone's communications.
edit: and how Whatsapp in general has fractured the information-media ecosystem, sending shock-waves across the democracy.
AFAIK group chats aren't e2e, and that's where most of the misinformation is shared.
The Indian politics and judiciary have been compromised by right wing Hindu nationalists and it is impossible to expect anything from them. However, I expected better from Facebook. In a western country Facebook wouldn't think twice about firing any employee who shared such a post.
“The Southern Strategy” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy
Dog Whistle Politics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog-whistle_(politics)
Point being, even though it's terrible ... it's really, really different.
That's a testament to his influence, that you can't even imagine a different world.
> Has it all been bad?
Their stance about climate change alone is bad enough to wipe out anything positive they might have done. But yeah, nearly all of it has been bad.
> Sounds like a player that made it.
That's what people said about Stalin and Mao too.
"Please don't post insinuations about astroturfing, shilling, brigading, foreign agents and the like. It degrades discussion and is usually mistaken. If you're worried about abuse, email [email protected] and we'll look at the data."
Lots of further explanation at https://hn.algolia.com/?sort=byDate&dateRange=all&type=comme...
And if you aren't aware BJP party in india is known to use a huge troll army to squash any dissent. This isn't my opinion. It is well documented.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/27/india-bjp-part...
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/09/11/bjp-may-have-create...
She gave a half hearted apology. Facebook should have immediately suspended her or sacked her:
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/facebook-ankhi-das-anti-...
She and her sister (who is a politically connected to the ruling BJP party) have publicly been hobnobbing with the BJP and have actively been involved in propaganda. https://twitter.com/SaketGokhale/status/1294653379046596608
During the recent riots in Delhi where many died, the incitement of violence was by a member of the ruling party but has taken no action against Kapil Mishra's account which is still active:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=283365149510764
His account is still active and he still continues to try and make the Hindus fight the Muslims:
https://www.facebook.com/youth4justice