This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
On October 1, 2019, WhatsApp announced a significant change to its messaging service, aimed at reducing the spread of misinformation and extremist content.
The company will now limit users to forwarding messages to a maximum of 5 individuals or groups, a move that has been welcomed by critics who have long raised concerns over the platform's role in spreading unverified information.
According to WhatsApp's Head of Communications, Carl Woog, the decision to limit forwarded messages was made in India last July, where the country's high forwarding rates have been linked to a spate of mob killings.
India is WhatsApp's largest market, with over 200 million users, and the company has acknowledged the need to take action to prevent the spread of inflammatory messages.
WhatsApp's new policy will see forwarded messages marked as such in light grey text, but otherwise appear indistinguishable from original messages sent by contacts.
With over 1.5 billion active users globally, WhatsApp remains the world's most popular messaging app, and this move is seen as a significant step towards reducing the spread of misinformation online.
