WhatsApp is among the most widely used instant messaging apps in India, boasting millions of users. However, its popularity has also attracted malicious actors, such as scammers, who exploit the platform for their schemes. To address these threats, WhatsApp actively reviews user reports and takes preemptive action against suspicious accounts. Recently, the platform banned over 8 million Indian accounts in just one month for breaching its privacy policies.

According to WhatsApp's latest transparency report, the Meta-owned app banned 8,458,000 users in India during August. This report was published in accordance with Rule 4(1)(d) and Rule 3A(7) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and highlights WhatsApp's heightened efforts to combat accounts that violate its policies or engage in illegal activities under Indian law.

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From August 1 to August 31, WhatsApp blocked a total of 8,458,000 Indian accounts. Of these, 1,661,000 accounts were proactively banned, identified and acted upon before any user complaints were lodged. This was achieved through WhatsApp’s automated systems, which can detect suspicious behaviors, such as bulk messaging or other irregular activities that often indicate scams or abuse.

Regarding user reports, WhatsApp disclosed that it received 10,707 user complaints through its grievance mechanisms in August 2024, resulting in action taken on 93 complaints. These user reports were submitted via email and postal channels directed to its India Grievance Officer and included categories like ban appeals, account support, safety issues, and other user-related concerns.

Reasons for Banning Accounts

WhatsApp typically bans accounts for various reasons, including:

• Violation of Terms of Service: This encompasses actions like sending bulk messages, spamming, engaging in scams, or disseminating misleading information.
• Illegal Activities: Accounts involved in activities that are illegal under local laws are flagged and banned.
• User Complaints: WhatsApp responds to reports from users experiencing abusive, harassing, or inappropriate behavior.

How WhatsApp Handles Violations

WhatsApp elaborates that its abuse detection operates in three main stages: during registration, throughout messaging activities, and in response to user feedback such as reports and blocks. By analyzing the context of user interactions, the system can identify accounts engaged in harmful behavior and implement appropriate measures, 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, utilizing this abuse detection approach, which also encompasses actions taken in response to negative feedback received via our 'Report' feature," WhatsApp states.

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