New Delhi: After months of engagement with the government over growing concerns around the circulation of fake news on its platform, Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp today announced the establishment of its India office. The new office, to be located in Gurugram, will be its first anywhere outside California.
The social media platform also announced Abhijit Bose as the head of its India operations, saying he will build company’s first full-country team outside of California. Bose will join in early 2019, the service said. “Bose and his team will focus on helping businesses, both large and small connect with their customers,” it said.
The setting up of office in India is a win for the government, which has been pursuing WhatsApp to conform to Indian laws by creating a local entity and a grievance redress system. WhatsApp forwards had earlier this year led to lethal mob lynching incidents based on fake rumour mongering on the platform.
