WhatsApp group admins are requested to close groups for two days as police can take action against admins & group members under section 68, 140 & 188 if anyone even by mistake post joke on the coronavirus.

Tweet by PIB Fact Check proves that the government has not ordered any such action against group admins and members under section 68, 140 & 188.

Tweet by PIB Fact Check proves that the government has not ordered any such action against group admins and members under section 68, 140 & 188. A message was circulated in social media stating that WhatsApp group admins are requested to close groups for two days and police will take actions if a group posts jokes on coronavirus.

Tweet by Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check on 6 April 2020, stated that fake message is doing rounds on social media claiming that legal action would be taken against admins and group members who post jokes on coronavirus, hence group admins should close the group for two days. Further, it confirmed that this is a fake message and no such order has been issued by the government.

Upon research, section 68, 140 and 188 are not related to the crime involved in social media.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.