Did Indian Government launch a video conferencing app by the name of Namaste ?
Information has been doing the rounds that the Indian government is all set to launch a beta version of the video conferencing app ‘Namaste’. Many websites including Firstpost, Gadgets To Use, MenXP and Dailyhunt had published articles stating the same.
Firstpost
The archived article can be found here.
Correction: The technology desk incorrectly reported that the Say Namaste app, launched by a Mumbai-based startup, was backed by the government of India. The Centre has since clarified that it isn’t behind the app. We apologise for the error, and have since amended the article.
— Tech2 (@tech2eets) April 21, 2020
The govt's video conferencing alternative to @zoom_us is now available in beta via a web browser. Here's how to use it: https://t.co/0ElFgdQbdi
— Tech2 (@tech2eets) April 21, 2020
Dailyhunt
The archived article can be found here.
Gadgets To Use
The archived article can be found here.
Govt Launches ‘Namaste’ Video Conferencing Tool to Take on Zoom; Here’s How it Works: https://t.co/mVGFNYaWf2#Namaste #SayNamaste #Zoom #videoconferencing pic.twitter.com/uo7KJtzGiE
— Gadgets To Use (@gadgetstouse) April 21, 2020
Truth
The government has denied having issued or having any association with the video conferencing app ‘Namaste’. The app is owned by Inscripts Pvt Ltd which is a private product company with its headquarters in Mumbai. The news started doing rounds amidst the government’s Digital India initiative that encourages Indians to build their own video conferencing apps at home. However, Namaste is not the site being referenced by the initiative.
The citizen engagement platform of the Government of India took to Twitter to disband any rumours related to the government’s affiliation to the website.
#MyGovFactCheck of the Day: A news saying that the Government has launched a video conferencing tool ‘NAMASTE’ to take on ‘unsafe’ Zoom is FAKE! Don’t believe such misinformation! Stay Informed, Stay Safe! #IndiaFightsCorona @PIB_India @MIB_India @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/UgaaU9AsuH
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) April 21, 2020
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) also tweeted that the news is fake.
Claim: Firstpost, a web news portal, has reported that Government has launched a beta version of a soon to be launched video conferencing app #PIBFactCheck: Government has neither launched nor endorsed any video conferencing app pic.twitter.com/3Hr3bP2DcP
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 21, 2020
News platforms such as The Financial Express and MenXP have also clarified that Namaste is not a government launched website. The article for the same can be found here and here respectively.
Firstpost has since then rectified the article published on the platform and tweeted regarding the mistake, apologising for the same.
Correction: The technology desk incorrectly reported that the Say Namaste app, launched by a Mumbai-based startup, was backed by the government of India. The Centre has since clarified that it isn’t behind the app. We apologise for the error, and have since amended the article.
— Tech2 (@tech2eets) April 21, 2020
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