WhatsApp is a leading instant messaging platform in India, boasting millions of users. However, its popularity has also attracted malicious actors, including scammers who exploit the app for fraudulent activities. To combat these threats, WhatsApp reviews user reports and proactively bans suspicious accounts. Recently, the platform took action against over 8 million Indian accounts in just one month for violating its privacy policies.
As detailed in WhatsApp’s latest transparency report, the Meta-owned app banned 8,458,000 users in India during August. This report was published to comply with Rule 4(1)(d) and Rule 3A(7) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, highlighting WhatsApp’s commitment to tackling accounts that breach its policies or engage in illegal activities under Indian law.
Between August 1 and August 31, a total of 8,458,000 Indian accounts were blocked. Of these, 1,661,000 accounts were proactively banned, meaning they were identified and removed before any user complaints were lodged. This proactive approach was made possible through WhatsApp’s automated systems, which can detect suspicious behavior patterns like bulk messaging or other irregular activities, often indicative of scams.
In terms of user reports, WhatsApp received 10,707 complaints through its grievance mechanisms in August 2024 and acted on 93 of these. Complaints were submitted via email and postal channels directed to its India Grievance Officer and included categories such as ban appeals, account support, safety issues, and other user-related concerns.
WhatsApp typically bans accounts for various reasons, including:
Violation of Terms of Service: Activities such as sending bulk messages, spamming, engaging in scams, or disseminating misleading information are grounds for action.
Illegal Activities: Accounts involved in actions that are illegal under local laws are flagged and banned.
User Complaints: WhatsApp takes action based on complaints from users encountering abusive, harassing, or inappropriate behavior.
To further elaborate on its approach to tackling abuse, WhatsApp states that its detection system functions in three main stages: during account registration, throughout messaging activities, and in response to user feedback, including reports and blocks. By analyzing user interactions, the system can identify harmful accounts and take necessary actions, including suspensions or permanent bans. “The data shared below highlights the number of Indian accounts banned by WhatsApp between August 1 and August 31, 2024, using the aforementioned abuse detection approach, which also includes actions taken in response to negative feedback received via our ‘Report’ feature,” says WhatsApp.
