The Role of WhatsApp University in Spreading Fake News by Politicians in India

In India, WhatsApp has transcended its role as a messaging app to become a powerful tool for political communication, often dubbed "WhatsApp University" for its vast, unchecked dissemination of information. With over 487 million users in India as of 2023, WhatsApp is the country’s most widely used messaging platform, making it a fertile ground for politicians to influence voters. Unfortunately, this reach has also made it a breeding ground for fake news, particularly during election cycles, where political parties exploit the platform’s encryption and group dynamics to spread misinformation and propaganda. This note explores how Indian politicians leverage WhatsApp to propagate fake news, the mechanisms behind it, and its implications for democracy.

The Rise of WhatsApp as a Political Tool

WhatsApp’s dominance in India stems from its accessibility, affordability, and end-to-end encryption, which ensures message privacy. With internet penetration soaring to over 880 million users by 2023, WhatsApp has become the primary interface with the digital world for many, especially in rural areas where media literacy is low. Its group chat feature, allowing up to 256 members per group, enables rapid information sharing, often without verification. The 2019 general elections were famously termed India’s “first WhatsApp elections” due to the platform’s pivotal role in political campaigning. By 2024, this influence had only intensified, with political parties, particularly the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), creating vast networks of WhatsApp groups to reach voters directly.

How Politicians Weaponize WhatsApp

Indian politicians across the spectrum, but notably from the BJP and the Indian National Congress (INC), have harnessed WhatsApp’s reach to spread tailored narratives. The BJP, for instance, reportedly maintains a network of groups targeting India’s 927,533 polling booths, potentially reaching over 700 million people. These groups are often managed by volunteers who forward messages crafted to resonate with specific communities, exploiting caste, religious, or regional identities.

1. Targeted Misinformation Campaigns: Politicians use WhatsApp to circulate emotionally charged content, such as doctored images, fake quotes, or out-of-context videos, to manipulate voter perceptions. For example, during the 2019 elections, a message in a pro-BJP group falsely claimed India’s Muslim population was nearly equal to its Hindu population, stoking communal fears. In reality, the 2011 census showed 80% Hindus (1.1 billion) and 14% Muslims (188 million). Similarly, in 2024, a photo of opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal wearing a skull cap was shared with a false caption accusing him of being a “CIA asset,” leveraging conspiracy theories to discredit him.

2. Exploitation of Encryption: WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption makes it a “black hole” for fact-checkers, as messages cannot be monitored or traced by external entities. This allows politicians to spread misinformation with impunity, as the content remains hidden from public scrutiny. Jency Jacob, managing editor of fact-checking site Boom, noted that unlike Facebook or Twitter, WhatsApp’s privacy makes it nearly impossible to identify the “bad actors.”

3. Amplification Through Forwards: The ease of forwarding messages fuels the rapid spread of fake news. Politicians rely on supporters to share content across multiple groups, often without verifying its authenticity. A 2022 study by Alt News revealed a 60% spike in fake political content during election cycles, including edited videos and fabricated newspaper clippings. For instance, during the 2019 India-Pakistan conflict, old images from a 2014 suicide attack and a 2005 earthquake were falsely shared as evidence of Indian military success, inflaming nationalist sentiments.

4. Identity-Based Propaganda: Political parties exploit India’s diverse social fabric by crafting messages that target specific caste or religious groups. Researcher Sayan Banerjee notes that the BJP often uses WhatsApp to push identity-based narratives, such as portraying upper-caste communities as “left out” due to affirmative action policies, reinforcing existing grievances to mobilize voters. Such tactics amplify polarization and, in extreme cases, have incited violence, as seen in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, where fake videos fueled communal clashes.

Case Studies of Misinformation

- 2019 Elections: The BJP’s social media chief declared 2019 the year of the “WhatsApp elections,” with the party creating groups for each polling booth. Messages included false polls, like one claiming a BJP sweep, and inflammatory content targeting minorities. The opposition Congress also engaged in similar tactics, though on a smaller scale.

- COVID-19 Misinformation: During the pandemic, WhatsApp was flooded with unverified remedies, such as claims that steam inhalation could prevent COVID-19, leading to injuries and hospitalizations. Rumors about vaccine side effects further fueled hesitancy, particularly in rural areas.

- 2024 Elections: The BJP’s WhatsApp strategy continued to dominate, with groups like one in Mandi sharing manipulated images of rivals to undermine their credibility. The scale of these operations, driven by unpaid volunteers, allows the party to maintain plausible deniability while spreading propaganda.

Challenges in Combating Fake News

WhatsApp has implemented measures to curb misinformation, such as limiting forwards to five contacts (down from 20) and introducing a “Checkpoint” project for users to verify suspicious messages. However, these have had limited impact in India, where the sheer volume of groups—estimated in the hundreds of thousands—overwhelms fact-checking efforts. Fact-checking organizations like Boom, Alt News, and Factly struggle to keep pace, as misinformation spreads faster than corrections. A 2018 survey indicated that 45% of Indians were unaware of fact-checking initiatives, highlighting the challenge of low media literacy.

The Indian government has pushed for stricter regulations, including demands for WhatsApp to trace message origins, but the company resists, citing privacy concerns upheld by India’s Supreme Court. This stalemate leaves the onus on users to verify information, a daunting task in a trust-based society where messages from family or community groups are often taken at face value.

Implications for Democracy

The unchecked spread of fake news on WhatsApp undermines India’s democratic process by manipulating voter perceptions and deepening social divisions. The platform’s role in fueling communal violence, as seen in mob lynchings linked to false kidnapping rumors in 2018, underscores its real-world consequences. Researcher Kiran Garimella notes that WhatsApp’s reach into remote communities amplifies its impact, making it a unique challenge compared to other platforms.

Moreover, the use of WhatsApp by politicians to bypass traditional media erodes public discourse. Unlike public platforms, WhatsApp’s closed groups allow propaganda to flourish without scrutiny, creating echo chambers that reinforce biases. This threatens the integrity of elections, as voters make decisions based on manipulated narratives rather than facts.

Conclusion

WhatsApp University” has become a potent tool for Indian politicians to spread fake news, leveraging the platform’s vast reach, encryption, and group dynamics to influence voters. While the BJP has mastered this strategy, other parties are not far behind, creating a race to the bottom that undermines democracy. Addressing this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach: enhancing digital literacy, strengthening fact-checking initiatives, and exploring platform design changes without compromising privacy. As India navigates its digital future, the battle against misinformation on WhatsApp remains critical to preserving trust, truth, and democratic integrity.