WhatsApp has ramped up its efforts to combat fraud and scams in India, banning approximately 99 lakh Indian accounts between January 1 and January 30, 2025, as part of its commitment to maintaining platform integrity. In its latest India monthly report, the Meta-owned messaging service stated that the bans were enforced based on violations of specific rules under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. The primary reasons for these bans included spam, misinformation, fraudulent activities, and aggressive behavior.
The company utilized automated tools and user feedback to identify and remove offending accounts. Notably, 13.27 lakh accounts were proactively banned even before receiving any user reports, thanks to advanced fraud-detection technologies analyzing behavioral patterns.
WhatsApp also addressed 9,474 grievance reports during this period, with 239 cases leading to corrective actions, including account bans. The platform emphasized its commitment to creating a safer digital space by explaining its abuse detection process, which occurs at three stages: during registration, messaging, and in response to negative user feedback. The company’s proactive actions underline its ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of its users in India.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)