Government officials said they don’t want to read the actual content of the messages, but want the Facebook-owned platform to identify where a message comes from, and how many people read and forward it. The country released draft amendments to its Information Technology Act in December 2018, requiring all online platforms to ensure content traceability. (Economic Times)

Talking point: The Indian government has been pushing for WhatsApp to make its messages traceable after a series of lynchings in the country in 2018 that were fuelled by misinformation spread on the platform. Encrypted messaging is WhatsApp’s key feature, but it makes content moderation difficult, since neither governments nor the platform itself can access messages between users. Adding traceability to messages could result in backlash from users who argue it could hinder free speech and allow government spying. Similar regulatory moves in Australia and Singapore were met with criticism from tech firms and privacy experts, but both passed. India’s is likely to proceed, as well—the government has previously imposed digital regulations in spite of objections from Big Tech firms. In February, it implemented new e-commerce rules favouring local firms that were opposed by Amazon and Walmart. WhatsApp’s bargaining power is also likely limited, since India is its largest market, with 350 million to 400 million users.