Creating a WhatsApp group in Jammu & Kashmir will soon require a license

The J&K government has come up with an unusual method to clamp down on the use of WhatsApp by requiring group admins to get a license.

To ensure user privacy and security, WhatsApp recently introduced end-to-end encryption for its over a billion user base. With that in place, the government in Jammu & Kashmir has come with an unusual method to keep a tab on the messaging platform. A circular issued by Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir requires users who want to start a WhatsApp news group to first apply for a license.

“It is impressed upon all the Admins of WhatsApp news groups of the district to get the registration of their WhatsApp news groups in the office of undersigned within 10 days,” the circular reads. The circular is signed by the District Magistrate of Kupwara. The Additional District Informatics Officer at Kupwara will be in charge of the District Social Media Center. This Center will be responsible for registration of the WhatsApp groups, and will also keep a track of messages shared on these groups.

The circular also states that group admins will be responsible for any and everything that is shared on the WhatsApp groups. It also carries a stern warning that action will be taken against admins who do not register their groups, and also if a group were to share ‘irresponsible remarks/deals leading to untoward incidents’.

Notice: Running a WhatsApp group in #Kashmir? Get a license. @ShashiTharoor @abdullah_omar HT @fainalysis pic.twitter.com/oV47VfrLHE

— Prasanto K Roy (@prasanto) April 19, 2016

The circular comes at a time when the situation is a bit tense in the state, especially after the recent Handwara firing incident. In order to stop the spread of incriminatory messages and rumors, the state government had recently suspended Internet and mobile Internet in Kashmir. Services were only restored after a couple of days. In a time when freedom of speech and privacy are being widely discussed and debated, this is quite a regressive step by the Kashmir state government. It also proves shows that the people in charge have little to no idea of how to control what’s being shared on WhatsApp. Facebook recently, revealed that users were sending up to three times more messages on WhatsApp and Messenger than SMS on a daily basis. We will have to wait and see if the state government has the man power and technology to keep a track of such volume. BGR India has reached out to Facebook, and we will update the story when we hear from them. Not surprisingly, users on social media are far from pleased with this latest move and are expressing their anger and disappointment. Here are a few tweets we have come across so far.

Running a WhatsApp Group in Kashmir requires a license. Ok.

— Shubham Agarwal (@phonesoldier) April 19, 2016

Where can I apply for license to use @Whatsapp in #Kashmir ? Are we gonna have a Regional Whatsapp Officer to issue those?

— Fouad Farooq (@fouadfarooq) April 19, 2016

Oh dear, people have zero understanding of tech works. How can you ban/ monitor whatsapp groups? #Kahsmir https://t.co/6zvHuIKc60

— Mischief managed (@AditiMallya) April 19, 2016

Its unfair, the govt babus will get Whatsapp licences much faster and common people will have to wait. #Sufarish #Kashmir

— Rich Autumns (@RichAutumns) April 19, 2016