WhatsApp has apologised for putting up a distorted map of India after the Meta-owned platform was called out by Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who made it clear any platform with business in the country will have to use correct maps.
In the wake of outrage by Indians and a clear warning by Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar over the use of the wrong map of India by WhatsApp, which the social messaging app had tweeted on eve of a new calendar year, the instant messaging service took down the wrong graphic.
While responding to Chandrasekhar’s tweet, WhatsApp replied, “Thank you Minister for pointing out the unintended error; we have promptly removed the stream, apologies. We will be mindful in the future.”
Thank you Minister for pointing out the unintended error; we have promptly removed the stream, apologies. We will be mindful in the future.
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) December 31, 2022
Here it is worth mentioning that in a clear warning to WhatsApp, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics and Technology tweeted, “Dear WhatsApp – Request that please fix the India map error asap. All platforms that do business in India and/or want to continue to do business in India, must use correct maps.”
Dear @WhatsApp – Rqst that u pls fix the India map error asap.
All platforms that do business in India and/or want to continue to do business in India , must use correct maps. @GoI_MeitY @metaindia https://t.co/aGnblNDctK
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) December 31, 2022
Notably, on December 31, 2022, on the occasion of New Year’s Eve, WhatsApp on its official Twitter handle shared graphics where Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir, which is an integral part of India and also some parts of Indian territory occupied by China were excluded from Indian map.
Importantly, the wrong depiction of the map of India could land the violators in jail with a maximum term of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 100 crore.
