Fact Check: Will whatsapp admins be detained for sharing Covid-19 based jokes?

Team Udayavani, Apr 7, 2020, 10:52 AM IST

A recent Whatsapp post claiming that legal action will be taken against the group administrator and members if a joke around coronavirus is shared, is going viral on WhatsApp.

The post claims that admins will be charged under Sections 68, 140 and 188 and that he must close the group for two days to prevent sharing of jokes on coronavirus.

The viral post read, “Group admin is requested to close group for 2 days as police can take action against admin and group members under section 68, 140 and 188 if anyone even by mistake post joke on corona. Everyone could be in trouble. Hence, I draw the attention of group admin to take necessary steps (sic),”

However, The Press Information Bureau’s Twitter account for Fact-Checking posted that the claim is fake. There has been no advisory or order by the Government.