WhatsApp tweaks its service to head off fake-news killings

Welcome toTheNational Today newsletter, which takes a closer look at some of the day's most notable stories. Sign up hereand we'll deliver itdirectly to your inbox Monday to Friday.

TODAY:

• WhatsAppis making major changes to its messaging service in an effort to stop the spread of fake news and mob violence, especially in India.
• Over the past few months, police and dog teams havesearched close to 100 properties in the Toronto area known to be associated with alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur. After announced the discovery of an eighth body, the detective in charge of the investigation said, "I think we're done now."
• As in many regions this summer, the heat in Japan has been excruciating and deadly.
• Missed The National last night? Watch it here

When fake news becomes deadly

WhatsAppis making major changes to its messaging service in an effort to stop the spread of fake news and mob violence.

As of last night, users around the world are now able toforward messages to a maximum of 20 chat groups except in India, where the limit will be just five. The old cap, rarely encountered by users, was 250 groups.

"Today, we're launching a test to limit forwarding that will apply to everyone usingWhatsApp,"the company announced via a blog post. "In India where people forward more messages, photos, and videos than any other country in the world we'll also test a lower limit of 5 chats at once and we'll remove the quick forward button next to media messages."

Thespecial treatment for the subcontinent, whereWhatsApphas some 200 million users, has everything to do with a spate of violent attacksfueledby rumours spread on the platform.

At least adozen people have been set upon and killed over the past two months, in ahysteria over fake stories and videosabout child kidnappers stalking the nation.

Thelatest attack came last Friday, when a group of three men were surrounded by an angry crowd of approximately 2,000 people, pulled from their car and severely beaten in southernKarnatakastate. MohammadAzam, 27, was killed, and his two companions critically injured.

Police say the men had stopped in a small village for a rest break andshared some chocolates with local children. Elders became suspicious, and after the men left, usedWhatsAppto send messages to the village up the road, where a mob blocked the way. Twenty-five people now face charges in the fatal attack.

The incident came just two weeksafter the lynching of five peoplein the western state of Maharashtra, after locals accused them of being a gang of kidnappers, again inspired by rumours that had spread on the social media platform.

In June, a mob in the northeastern state of Assambeat two young men to deathafter they got lost and stopped to ask directionsin a small village. There have been at least seven more deaths linked to the rumours since May,including a newly arrived man in Bangalorewho was beaten to death by a mob with cricket bats, a woman in TamilNaduwho was lynched for giving candy to children and themurder of a transgender woman in Hyderabad.

WhatsApp-inspiredkillingsare not a new phenomenon in India the listdates back to at least 2015.

What seems different is theinternational attention now focused on the problem. And the willingness of the Facebook-owned company to address the issue.

The message cap is thethird measure introduced since the early Julylynchingsin Maharashtra. The company had previously added a new label that identifies forwarded content, andgiven group administrators additional powerto restrict members from sending text messages, photos or videos.

The most visible attempt to combat misinformation, however, has been anewspaper advertising blitz. Last week,WhatsApptook out full-page ads in all of India's leading newspapers,offering readers 10 tips on spotting fake news.

"Just because a message is shared many times does not make it true," read one piece of advice.

• Like this newsletter?Sign upand have it delivered by email.
• You may also like our early-morning newsletter, the Morning Briefstart the day with the news you need in one quick and concise read.Sign up here.

Eighth body found inMcArthurinvestigation

Toronto police have identified the remains of BruceMcArthur'seighth alleged victim and say that they now believe there are no more bodies to be found.

"Right now we have nothing to suggest that Mr.McArthuris responsible for more than the eight murders for which he has been charged,"Det.-Sgt. HankIdsinga, the lead investigator in the case,told a news conference this morning.

Nine days of excavationsby forensic teams in a ravine behind the midtown Toronto home where seven bodies had previously been found uncovered whatIdsingatermed the "bits and pieces" ofMajeedKayhan, 58, who went missing in Oct. 2012.

McArthurhadalready been charged withKayhan'smurder, along with the homicides ofSkandarajNavaratnam, 40; Andrew Kinsman, 49; SelimEsen, 44;AbdulbasirFaizi, 44;KirushnaKumarKanagaratnam, 37; DeanLisowick, 47; andSoroushMahmudi, 50.

Over the past few months, police and dog teams havesearched close to 100 properties in the Toronto area known to be associated with the alleged serial killer, a 66-year-old landscaper by trade.Idsingatoday said that the only location where they found human remains was the Mallory Crescent home, and that they have no intention of returning there, or to any of the other properties.

"I think we're done now.I hope that we are done now, and that there is nothing left," said the detective.

Police continue to probemurder cold cases and examine missing person reportsdating back to the1970s, looking for possible links toMcArthur. To date, however, they have established no connections.

Idsingasaid that they have also established a"diligent timeline" ofMcArthur'slife in order to see if they need to widen the geographic scope of theirenquiries, but remain focused on the Toronto area at present.

Theinvestigation will continue for some time,Idsingasaid.

"I'm still getting tips. We're following up on absolutely everything, so we still have a lot of work to do."

Beating the heat in Japan

Japan is suffering through a record heat wave that has killed more than 30 people and sent at least 10,000 to hospital over the past 10 days.

Yesterday, the temperature in central Japan hit 40.7 C the highest reading in at least five years with daytime highs over 35 C recorded at 190 of the country's 927 weather stations, and temps over 30 C at 640 sites.

On Wednesday, Tokyo set a single-day record for emergency calls, with 3,000 appeals for help and 317 people transported to hospital. It topped the previous mark of 2,900 calls set the day before.

With the forecast calling for the heat to continue through at least early next week, officials are urging the public to find ways to keep cool and protect themselves against sunstroke.

Sales of heat-relief products such as cooling sheets and blankets have spiked. So, too, has demand for "body fragrance papers" scented deodorant wipes meant to soak up sweat. Meanwhile, beverage companies have been busy introducing special anti-heat drinks with ingredients like "snow salt," yuzu citrus peel and fermented lactic acid.

What isn't on, however, is cheap beer.

This week, 7-Eleven in Japan backed away from a plan to start offering draft beer at some of its Tokyo convenience stores. The chain wanted to sell cups at the register and charge 100 yen ($1.18 Cdn) for a small self pour, and 190 yen ($2.24) for a large one. Beer taps, decorated with slogans like, "Today becomes a happy day again when drinking a bit," had already appeared in some stores.

But critics pointed out that the inexpensive suds might create problems, incentivizing patrons to drink to excess, causing noise in residential neighbourhoods or worse still, drive home.

Following a social media whipping, the company has announced that the pilot program is on indefinite hold -- but not for the reasons you might think.

"There was a possibility that the shops selling the beer would experience overwhelming demand," Katsuhiko Shimizu, a spokesman for Seven & I Holdings, the parent company told the Japan Times, making it "extremely difficult" for staff to please their customers.

Quote of the moment

What The National is reading

• Storm sinks Missouri duck boat, killing 13, including children (CNN)
• Cameroon's military accused of burning civilians alive (Guardian)
• Aeroplan to launch charter airline after Air Canada deal ends (CBC)
• Undaunted by creditors and fraud charges, Peter Pocklington launches pot company (CBC)
• 79 moons of Jupiter and counting (NY Times)
• Indigenous 'man of the hole' has lived alone in Amazon rainforest for 22 years (CBC)
• The massive black sarcophagus was opened: Here's what was inside (Live Science)
• Brotherly hate: Amid Oasis reunion buzz, a history of the Gallaghers (Telegraph)
• 'Thomas the Tank' land train stolen (BBC)

Today in history

Children react to the moon landing

55 years ago

Duration 1:41

American astronauts have taken the lead in the superpower space race with the Apollo 11 lunar landing. It's July 1969 and Canadian children have been watching and considering how the expedition will change their world.

Sign up hereand have The National Today newsletter delivered directly to your inbox Monday to Friday.

Please send your ideas, news tips, rants, and compliments tothenationaltoday@cbc.ca.