New Delhi:
WhatsApp, the popular social media platform owned by Meta, made headlines in India as it enforced a strict clampdown, banning over 7.2 million accounts within a single month.
This action, in accordance with India’s new IT Rules of 2021, was a response to accounts engaging in various violations.
In its monthly report, WhatsApp disclosed that between July 1 and 31,
it took action against a staggering 7,228,000 accounts, with 3,108,000 accounts being banned without any formal reports.
A User Base of Over 500 Million:
WhatsApp boasts a massive user base in India, with more than 500 million active users. During the month of July, the platform received a record-breaking 11,067 complaint reports in the country, leading to action taken on 72 of them.
These actions demonstrate WhatsApp’s commitment to addressing user concerns, either by banning accounts or reinstating previously banned ones.
According to WhatsApp,
“This user-safety report includes details of user complaints received and actions taken by WhatsApp, as well as WhatsApp’s own actions to address abuse on our platform.”
Furthermore, the company reported that it received five orders from the Grievances Appellate Committee between July 1 and July 31,
all of which were duly complied with.
Reasons Behind WhatsApp Account Bans:
Major social media platforms are often conduits for hate speech, misinformation, and the dissemination of fake news.
To combat such issues, these platforms must take decisive actions, including banning accounts when necessary.
India’s IT rules mandate that large digital platforms with more than 50 lakh users must submit monthly compliance reports, outlining details of complaints received and actions taken in response to these complaints.
These measures are essential in curbing the spread of hate speech, misinformation, and fake news on these prominent social media platforms.
