Mozilla has criticized WhatsApp for not taking sufficient steps to prevent the spread of misinformation on its platform. With approximately 4 billion people in 64 countries expected to go to the polls in 2024, Mozilla has called on WhatsApp to take stronger measures against disinformation ahead of global elections.
Mozilla urges WhatsApp to combat disinformation ahead of elections
Mozilla notes that major platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok have increased compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), but WhatsApp, being a closed messaging platform, does not provide the same level of transparency.
Research indicates that Meta’s safety commitments, 90% of which focus on Facebook and Instagram, are inadequate for WhatsApp. Mozilla’s criticisms include that WhatsApp should add disinformation warnings to viral content and encourage users to pause and think before forwarding messages.
Mozilla warns that WhatsApp’s community and broadcast features, which make it easy to send messages to thousands of people simultaneously, have the potential to spread political disinformation. WhatsApp claims that its encrypted nature makes it difficult to monitor content on the platform, limiting its responsibility for content control.
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This poses a challenge in ensuring content integrity and combating disinformation. Mozilla emphasizes that closed platforms can play a significant role in spreading disinformation. Researchers are working on innovative methods to monitor content on the platform, but encryption limits the scope of such efforts.
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