How this cop is saving lives by fighting fake news spread on Whatsapp
With an election due in 2019, some worry a surge of fake, politicised
messages could lead to more violence, stoking broader Hindu-Muslim tensions and
sparking religious riots
Current Affairs News: Local musicians are already singing about the evils of fake news
when police superintendent Rema
Rajeshwari’s convoy rolls up to the dusty village square in one of India’s
poorest communities. "Don’t believe these things," a performer cries
out to the crowd.
In a dark blue cap and stiff khaki uniform, Rajeshwari climbs onto a makeshift
stage in front of hundreds of villagers. She’s there to try and stop the spread
of bogus Whats App messages in her district
that warn of child kidnappers and roving murderers.
Across India, social media rumors have caused rural
villagers to patrol in anxious groups on the look-out for anyone they don’t
recognize. These mobs have already killed numerous people. In May and June
alone, at least six people died in WhatsApp-related mob attacks in eastern
Assam, western Maharashtra and southern Tamil
Nadu. There’s also simmering
tensions over Hindu vigilante groups who’ve targeted and killed Muslims.
"You see these
messages, these photos and videos, but you don’t check if they’re real or fake,
you just forward them," Rajeshwari tells them. "Don’t
spread these messages. And when strangers come to your village, don’t take the
law into your hands. Don’t kill them."
With an election due in 2019, some worry a surge of fake,
politicized messages could lead to more violence, stoking broader Hindu-Muslim
tensions and sparking religious riots. The stakes are already high -- Hindu
nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is facing declining support,
while opposition parties are planning to combine forces to take him on.Rajeshwari said she saw a spike in
messages around recent state elections in the neighboring state of Karnataka,
and fears more ahead of national polls.
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