WhatsApp group admins, creators not responsible for members' posts, rules LHC

The Lahore High Court has ruled that creating or managing a WhatsApp group does not automatically make a person criminally responsible for everything shared by its members.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh observed that criminal liability in such cases must be based on a person’s own actions and not simply on their role as a group creator, administrator or member, according to a media report.

The court said that being a member of a WhatsApp group, receiving content without action, or choosing not to leave the group could not by itself be treated as a criminal offence.

It further held that a group administrator usually has no authority to screen or approve messages before they are posted and, therefore, cannot be held responsible for objectionable material shared by others.

However, the court clarified that liability could arise if there was evidence showing common intention, conspiracy, abetment or active involvement in spreading unlawful content.

According to the prosecution, the case began after a complainant was added to two WhatsApp groups where some members allegedly shared blasphemous material.

The complainant preserved screenshots of the posts and later approached the FIA Cyber Crime Wing, which started an inquiry.