Fact Check: Does a red tick in WhatsApp mean govt is taking note of your messages?
By Satya Priya BN Published on 10 April 2020 4:52 AM GMT
WhatsApp has become a major source of information during the nationwide lockdown. However, this has also led to the rampant spread of misinformation on the messaging app.
Recently, a viral message stating that the number and colour of 'ticks' on WhatsApp indicate that the government has taken notice of the message has been circulating on WhatsApp.
According to the message, one tick means the message is sent, two means message delivered, two blue ticks mean the message has been read, three blue ticks mean the government has taken note of the message, and two blue and one red tick means the government can take action against the sender.
The message also says that one blue and two red ticks mean the government is screening your data, while three red ticks mean the government has initiated an action against the sender and s/he will receive a summons from the court.
Fact Check:
The above claim is FALSE.
While two blue ticks mean the message has been read, WhatsApp has no red tick or three ticks feature. Sharing offensive content may get the person punished or reported on the app, but it does not mean the court will summon the sender.
WhatsApp is an end to end encrypted app so there is no chance that either the government or WhatsApp can read the messages we share.
WhatsApp has not published any official information about this feature and also the PIB has debunked this claim and said the government is not taking note of the messages we send. Hence, this is a FALSE message.
NDTV gadgets has also debunked this claim.
Therefore, the above claim is FALSE.
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