Fake alert: Will govt monitor your WhatsApp chats? Here's the truth

A new message has been circulating on social media lately, claiming that the government could monitor WhatsApp chats and take action against users. First of all, the users need to know that it is a 'fake' message and no such guidelines have been released by the government. The message has gone viral and created a furore among users. Here's all you need to know about it.

Here's what the message claims
According to this fake message, a new guideline has been issued regarding WhatsApp and it claims that from here on, any message that would be considered suspicious will have three 3 Blue ticks, which means that the government has taken a note of that particular message.

WhatsApp has a 'Tick' feature, which shows whether the message is delivered, read or not read. One colourless tick suggests that the message is sent, while two ticks mean that it has been delivered. These two ticks turn blue if the message is seen or read by those, who have not turned off this feature.


The fake message further claims that if 3 Blue ticks turn red that would mean that your data is being screened by the government and it could initiate an action against you.

Should you bother?
This message is fake and there is nothing to worry about. The government hasn't released any guidelines. To further stop the spread of this fake news, the government's fact check handle on Twitter has released a message.

“A message circulating on social media claims the Government of India has released a new #WhatsApp guideline to monitor chats and take action against people,” PIB Fact Check Twitter handle wrote on the issue.

“This message is #FAKE. The Government has released no such guideline,” it clarified.