WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has reported banning 71.1 lakh accounts in September in compliance with IT rules, according to the monthly report released by the messaging platform. Out of these, 25.7 lakh accounts were proactively banned before any reports from users.
An Indian account is identified using the ‘+91’ country code.
“Between September 1, 2023 and September 30, 2023, 71,11,000 WhatsApp accounts were banned. 25,71,000 of these accounts were proactively banned, before any reports from users,” stated the report.
The report, known as the ‘user-safety report,’ provides details of user complaints received and the corresponding action taken by WhatsApp, as well as its own preventive measures to combat abuse on the platform.
In the same month, WhatsApp received six orders from the Grievance Appellate Committee, all of which were complied with.
In August, WhatsApp had banned 74 lakh accounts, with 35 lakh being proactively banned.
According to the latest report, in September, WhatsApp received a total of 10,442 user reports, covering various categories including account support (1,031), ban appeal (7,396), other support (1,518), product support (370), and safety (127).
During this period, 85 accounts were actioned based on the received reports.
WhatsApp clarified that “Accounts Actioned” refers to reports where it took remedial action based on the complaint. This action could involve either banning an account or restoring a previously banned account.
Reports that were reviewed but not included as ‘Actioned’ could be due to various reasons, such as the user needing assistance to access their account or specific features, restoration requests for banned accounts being denied, or the reported account not violating Indian laws or WhatsApp’s Terms of Service.
“Safety-related grievances pertain to issues that may involve abuse or harmful behavior on the platform,” the report added.
WhatsApp responds to all received grievances, except in cases where a complaint is deemed a duplicate of a previous ticket.
Perspective: The banning of a significant number of accounts on WhatsApp raises concerns about the misuse and abuse of the messaging platform. While proactive measures are commendable, it highlights the need for stricter regulations and improved user safety features. In an increasingly digital world, platforms like WhatsApp play a crucial role in communication, and it becomes essential to ensure a safe and secure environment for users.
