India’s television news networks and social media have recently come under a lot of criticism as they have been baying for blood during the recent escalations of tensions between Pakistan and India.
And it seems the criticism is rightly directly as a survey has found India has more fake news and internet hoaxes than anywhere else in the world.
According to a report by Microsoft, 64 per cent of Indians had encountered fake news, compared to the global average of 57 per cent.
Meanwhile, 54 per cent had come across internet hoaxes, in comparison to 50 per cent worldwide.
In India, internet hoaxed in particular have had murderous consequences as more than 40 people were killed in the country last year due to smartphone-fuelled mob murders by ordinary citizens. Moreover, fake WhatsApp warnings about child abductors led to brutal lynchings.
Subsequently, WhatsApp enforced new rules which limited the number of times messages could be forwarded to new people. The platform is also gearing up for this year’s national elections, the biggest in the world with 800 million eligible to vote.
The report also found that 29 per cent of people face “risks” from friends and family, one per cent above the global average.
And it seems the criticism is rightly directly as a survey has found India has more fake news and internet hoaxes than anywhere else in the world.
According to a report by Microsoft, 64 per cent of Indians had encountered fake news, compared to the global average of 57 per cent.
Meanwhile, 54 per cent had come across internet hoaxes, in comparison to 50 per cent worldwide.
In India, internet hoaxed in particular have had murderous consequences as more than 40 people were killed in the country last year due to smartphone-fuelled mob murders by ordinary citizens. Moreover, fake WhatsApp warnings about child abductors led to brutal lynchings.
Subsequently, WhatsApp enforced new rules which limited the number of times messages could be forwarded to new people. The platform is also gearing up for this year’s national elections, the biggest in the world with 800 million eligible to vote.
The report also found that 29 per cent of people face “risks” from friends and family, one per cent above the global average.