News Technology WhatsApp has a big problem, being used to spread Child Pornography

WhatsApp has a big problem, being used to spread Child Pornography

Child pornography is not the only problem that WhatsApp is battling right now as in countries like in India, WhatsApp has been linked to rumours leading to the lynching of dozens of people.

WhatsApp has a big problem, being used to spread Child Pornography Image Source : PIXABAY/ANTONBEWhatsApp has a big problem, being used to spread Child Pornography

According to a media report, WhatsApp is being used by Child pornography traders to distribute disturbing content. With no human monitoring, such content is slipping into the automated systems of popularly used instant messaging platforms that offer end-to-end encryption to users, says a TechCrunch report on Thursday.

Other reports from two Israeli NGOs -- Screen Savers and Netivei Reshe suggest that third-party apps for finding WhatsApp groups offer invite links to users for joining and trading child pornography content.

Techcrunch found in its investigation that many of these groups are currently active. According to anti-exploitation start-up AntiToxin, some of these groups do not even hide what they are into.

Facebook was found wanting in its efforts to prevent the spread of such material on WhatsApp, according to the TechCrunch investigation. 

Even without technical solutions that would require a weakening of encryption, WhatsApp's moderators should have been able to find these groups and put a stop to them, the report said. 

However, child pornography is not the only problem that WhatsApp is battling right now as in countries like in India, WhatsApp has been linked to rumours leading to the lynching of dozens of people.

(With IANS inputs)