In a significant move to prevent misuse and maintain the credibility of its platform, WhatsApp has banned approximately 71 lakh Indian accounts between April 1 and April 30.
This action is part of Meta-owned WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to ensure safe usage for its users. The company regularly undertakes such measures to ban unnecessary accounts.
Details from WhatsApp’s April 2024 Report
According to WhatsApp’s India monthly report for April 2024, a total of 7,182,000 accounts were banned during the month. Notably, 1,302,000 of these accounts were proactively banned before any user complaints were received.
This proactive banning initiative aligns with WhatsApp’s compliance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
These rules mandate digital platforms to publish compliance reports detailing actions taken in response to user complaints and law violations.
The latest June 2024 report highlights WhatsApp’s firm stance against abusive behavior through both user complaints and in-house detection systems.
User Reports and WhatsApp’s Response
In April 2024, WhatsApp received 10,554 user reports addressing various issues, including account support, ban appeals, product support, and safety concerns.
Despite the high volume of reports, action was taken against only six accounts based on these complaints.
This underscores the stringent criteria WhatsApp follows before taking action against reported accounts.
WhatsApp’s latest measures demonstrate its commitment to maintaining a secure and reliable platform for its users, reflecting its ongoing efforts to combat abusive behavior and uphold digital ethics.