WhatsApp may allow group admins to delete any message

Tired of participants posting nonsense in WhatsApp groups? Admins may soon be able to delete messages posted by others. — antonbe/Pixabay

A NEW feature in the works may allow WhatsApp admins to moderate what participants post in a group chat.

According to WhatsApp Beta Info, the instant messaging platform is testing a feature that will allow admins to delete messages in a group chat.

In a screenshot, WhatsApp Beta Info showed that if an admin deletes the message, a note – “This message was deleted by admin”, along with the admin name – will be displayed.

“Unfortunately, this feature is not available because it’s under development and there isn’t a known release date for the activation,” according to the site.

Currently, only users can delete their own messages within about an hour of posting them.

If a user deleted their own messages, WhatsApp will instead display “You deleted this message”.

Allowing group chat admins to delete posts will allow them to moderate groups better, as they will be able to remove unwanted messages, preventing them from being forwarded.

Back in 2017, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had stated that admins could also be held responsible for what was being discussed in their groups.

The regulatory body said it was an offence for a person to use social messaging applications to distribute any comment, request, suggestion or other communication which was obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in nature with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass others.

Sharing of offensive and menacing content is an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998, which carries a maximum RM50,000 fine, up to a year in jail, or both.