NEW DELHI: Concerned over children being prodded to commit suicide on the
Blue Whale Challenge game, the government has directed top internet platforms -
Google,
Facebook, WhatsApp,
Instagram,
Microsoft
and Yahoo - to immediately remove the links to the notorious online game.
The electronics and IT ministry has asked the companies to "ensure" that any link leading to the "deadly game" is immediately taken down. "Instances of children committing suicide while playing
Blue Whale Challenge have been reported in India...You are hereby requested to ensure that any such link of this deadly game in its own name or similar game is immediately removed from your platform," a letter from the ministry, dated August 11, said.
The letter was issued following instructions from Union law and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, official sources said.
The Blue Whale challenge is reportedly a suicide game in which the player is given certain tasks to complete for a period of 50 days and the final task leads to suicide. The player is also asked to share photos after finishing each challenge.
Expressing concern over availability of such deadly games on the internet, the ministry's note said, "It is understood that an administrator of the game uses social media platform to invite /incite children to play this game, which may eventually lead them to take extreme steps for self-inflicting injuries including suicide".
Mumbai and West Midnapore district have reported deaths linked to this game.
Meity said the proponent of the Blue Whale Challenge should be reported to the law enforcement agencies. The menace was also flagged off by other sections of the government. Union minister Maneka Gandhi had also written to home and IT ministers, asking them to remove the game from social media. The IT ministry's notice was also intimated to the ministry of home affairs and also to the women and child development ministry.
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