While the entire country has gone vocal about its sentiments and thoughts regarding the Delhi gang rape verdict, popular messaging and chat service Whats App and content management (CMS) and popular blogging site WordPress seem to be in no mood to support the sentiments of millions of Indians.
Last week, content website newz66.com initiated a campaign on Facebook captioned Hang Rapists to build public opinion in favor of the death penalty for the brutal crime. Newz66.com sent out several hundred messages on Facebook and other online media requesting netizens to drop by and leave their feedback. Whats App – the popular messaging service was also used. However, while Facebook’s automated systems did not flag the multiple messages and “shares” sent out, Whats App and WordPress’ servers were quick to block the SIM cards and mobile numbers used to send out the anti-rape campaign messages.
Says editor and publisher of newz66.com, Flynn Remedios, “We were using 3 Vodafone-Mumbai numbers to send out messages via Whats App to all our media contacts as network operators have a restriction of 100 sms messages within a 24 hour period. We must have hardly sent out about 150 messages, when Whats App’s servers disabled our SIM cards without any warning. Even WordPress’ automated systems flagged our blogs and blocked them instantly without any warning. While rascals spreading communal disharmony, discontent and animosity manage to escape the monitoring systems of Facebook, WordPress and Whats App – every day I see several pornographic and disturbing images cropping up on Facebook and on WordPress blogs – a social campaign for a genuine cause is blocked by these online service providers. It only demonstrates the inefficacy of their systems. We request all netizens to go to the FB page at facebook.com/pages/Hang-Rapists/159811037557361 and give us their feedback”
