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The world's most popular messaging platform is implementing an odd method of stopping the flow of misinformation and 'fake news'. WhatsApp will now start limiting users to forwarding a message only five times, in yet another attempt to curb down on the spread of misinformation. WhatsApp users on Android and iOS will no longer be able to forward messages to more than five individuals or groups. © Reuters The spread of misinformation has been a matter of concern for a couple of years, after multiple elections have been suspected to be swung using fake news. With the upcoming General Elections in India, WhatsApp has been under immense pressure to reduce the malicious spread. We've already witnessed multiple incidents of mob lynching based on fake news and in the end, there's hardly any accountability. © TIME WhatsApp says that the decision to limit forward messages to five chats has been taken globally after evaluating user feedback. WhatsApp released a plethora of ads to make users more aware and cautious towards the spread of fake news. The app previously allowed up to 20 forwards per message. Messages can still be forwarded to groups, with each group including up to 256 people. The company says the measures reduced forwarding by 25 per cent globally and more than that in India, which had one of the highest forwarding rates in the world. © BCCL In an update to its blog, WhatsApp said the move will help keep "WhatsApp focused on private messaging with close contacts." A text message that has been forwarded to a new recipient is marked as forwarded in a light grey text but otherwise appears indistinguishable from an original message sent by a contact. The app's end-to-end encryption allows groups of hundreds of users to exchange texts, photos and video beyond the purview of independent fact checkers or even the platform itself. Last year, to combat the issue, the company also rolled out 'Suspicious Link Indicator' feature that locally detects suspicious links and notifies the recipient before they are opened. © Reuters With the new update, WhatsApp is bringing a few additions as well, including fingerprint unlock, third-party stickers integration, 3D Touch action for Status, and dark mode. WhatsApp's parent Facebook has been mired in controversy ever since the Cambridge Analytica scandal and its list of problems is constantly increasing.

Mob lynchings triggered by false incendiary messages in India, WhatsApp's biggest market with more than 200 million users, led to authorities calling for steps to prevent the circulation of false texts and provocative content. Photo:...

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal remarked on Friday that Prime Minister House has approved forwarding 29 cases to military courts. ?In the last cabinet meeting, 29 cases were cleared to be forwarded to military courts,? he shared while exclusively speaking to Geo News. He also remarked that PM House has received Chief of Army Staff?s letter pertaining to forwarding cases to military courts and that its reply has already been forwarded. Eighty more cases will be sent to military courts, he remarked, adding that these 80 cases will be first approved in next cabinet meeting. ?After this, the interior ministry will not have any more cases pending,? he added. On March 28, the 28th Amendment Bill 2017, which sought the extension of military courts for another two years, was passed in the Senate after two-third majority votes came in its favour. After President?s signatures, the bill became an act and the duration of the military courts was extended for another two years, starting from January 7, 2017. Earlier on March 10, the Senate passed the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2017 but postponed voting on the 28th Amendment Bill 2017 to March 28. The Army Act 2017 further amends the Pakistan Army Act 1952. In January 2015 the Pakistan Army Act 2015, along with the 21st Constitution amendment, was passed to try hardcore terrorists in military courts. Four additions have been made in the previously passed Pakistan Army Act 2015.