WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has taken strict action against bad accounts in India, banning over 65 lakh accounts in the month of May alone. The company’s actions are in compliance with the new IT Rules 2021 set by the Indian government. Out of the total banned accounts, 2,420,700 were proactively banned before any reports from users were received.
This move comes after WhatsApp banned a record-breaking 74 lakh bad accounts in April. With over 500 million users in India, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging platform in the country. In May, the platform received 3,912 grievance reports, including “ban appeals,” and took action on 297 of them.
WhatsApp’s user-safety report highlights the company’s commitment to combatting abuse on its platform. It provides details about user complaints and the corresponding actions taken by the company. In addition to addressing user reports, WhatsApp has also implemented preventive measures to ensure user safety.
To further empower Indian social media users, the government recently launched the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC). This committee will address concerns related to content and other issues raised by users. The GAC aims to strengthen the country’s digital laws and provide a platform for users to appeal decisions made by social media platforms.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT has also introduced amendments to protect the rights of Indian citizens in the digital realm. These efforts reflect a commitment to creating an open, safe, trusted, and accountable Internet environment for all. WhatsApp’s proactive actions and the government’s initiatives are crucial steps towards ensuring user safety and combating online abuse in India.
