Fake news row: Social media won't be allowed to abuse polls, says Prasad

India has taken serious note of reported data misuse of social media platforms and such tools would never be allowed to abuse the election process for extraneous means, says Ravi Shankar Prasad

At a time when the government is engaged in a row with WhatsApp over tracing of fake messages, Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said spread of radical thought through digital means should be addressed by better regulations as well as international cooperation.

Prasad, speaking at the plenary of the G20 Digital Economy Ministerial meeting in Salata, Argentina, on August 23-24, also said that India has taken serious note of reported data misuse of social media platforms and such tools would never be allowed to abuse the election process for extraneous means. 

“Use of the cyber medium to