3 million WhatsApp accounts in India banned between June – July: Know why

Facebook-owned WhatsApp is a globally recognized instant messaging app with end-to-end encryption. And, yet more than 3 million accounts get banned in India alone every month. WhatsApp has now released its compliance report, where it has claimed to ban over 30 lakh accounts in India in the one-and-a-half months.

“In accordance with the IT Rules 2021, we’ve published our second monthly report for the 46-day period of – June 16 to July 31,” WhatsApp spokesperson said. The actual number of accounts that got suspended stands at 3027,000. The platform said it received 594 grievances during that time.

Why WhatsApp banned Indian accounts

WhatsApp has launched its second “User Safety Monthly Report” for the 46 days between June 16 – July 31 following the brand-new IT rules 2021. The instant messaging app claims to have banned these accounts in the interest of preventing online abuse and keeping the users safe. The banned accounts include accounts actioned through the company’s own prevention and detection methods, and via user reports or grievances received by it.

“Over the years, the platform has consistently invested in Artificial Intelligence and other state of the art technology, data scientists and experts, and in processes, in order to keep its users safe on the platform,” a WhatsApp spokesperson stated.

From June 16 to July 31, the instant messaging app received a total of 594 grievances from users relating to various issues such as ban appeal, account support, product support, and safety support. Out of which, 74 accounts had been ‘actioned’ throughout this time.

What are ‘Accounts Actioned’

WhatsApp defined that ‘Accounts Actioned’ means circumstances where the firm takes remedial motion based mostly on the report. Taking motions means either ban an account or a beforehand banned account being restored on account of the criticism. Also, studies could have been reviewed however not included as ‘Actioned’ for some causes, together with the person needing help to entry their account or to make use of some options person requested restoration of a banned account and the request is denied, or if the reported account doesn’t violate the legal guidelines of India or WhatsApp’s Terms of Service.

How WhatsApp identifies accounts that should be banned

Other than these accounts for which the company receives complaints of sending spam or abuse, the instant messaging app is determined by behavioural indicators to determine misuse of the platform. It says that it depends on accessible “unencrypted information” together with person studies, profile photographs, group photographs and descriptions in addition to superior AI instruments and assets to detect and stop abuse on its platform.

According to the new IT rules, social media platforms need to publish their compliance report where they need to define the numbers of complaints received and the action taken against them, every month.