WhatsApp has banned millions of accounts in India for violating its policies. This decision aims to enhance user security and address misuse of the platform.
In September alone, WhatsApp banned over 8.5 million accounts that were considered “malicious.”
This information was shared in the company’s monthly compliance report, following the new IT rules set in 2021.
Complaints and Actions Taken
From September 1 to September 30, WhatsApp banned 8,584,000 accounts. Out of these, 1,658,000 accounts were banned before any user complaints were received.
WhatsApp, which has more than 600 million users in India, received 8,161 complaints in September.
They took action on 97 of these complaints. “Actioned” refers to the complaints that resulted in a response from WhatsApp.
Additionally, WhatsApp received two orders from the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) in India and confirmed that it complied with both.
Company’s Commitment to Transparency
In response to the bans, WhatsApp stated, “We will maintain transparency in our work and include information about our efforts in future reports.
” To support these efforts, the company has assembled a team of engineers, data scientists, analysts, researchers, and experts in law and online safety.
WhatsApp emphasized that users can block and report any contacts directly within the app. They are committed to preventing misinformation, promoting cybersecurity,
and protecting election integrity. Their abuse detection system operates at three key stages: during account registration, while sending messages, and in response to user feedback.
Account Bans in August
In August 2024, WhatsApp also banned 8,458,000 accounts. Of these, 1,661,000 accounts were banned before any complaints were filed.
During that month, WhatsApp received 10,707 complaints, taking action on 93 of them.
