In a move aimed at enhancing user safety and compliance with India’s IT regulations, WhatsApp banned over 71 lakh suspicious accounts within the Indian region in November 2023. The surge in online scams and fraudulent activities led the Indian government to urge WhatsApp to take stringent measures.
According to a recent report by IANS, WhatsApp took action against a staggering 71 lakh accounts in India, citing adherence to the new IT Rules 2021. Remarkably, nearly 19,54,000 accounts faced bans proactively by WhatsApp without any user complaints between November 1 and November 30. This accounts for a significant step by the messaging platform in curbing potential abuse and scams.
With a colossal user base of over 500 million in India, WhatsApp encountered 8,841 complaint reports during November, leading to various corrective actions termed as “accounts actioned.” These measures encompassed both banning accounts and reinstating previously WhatsApp banned ones based on the platform’s investigations.
Furthermore, WhatsApp’s safety report highlighted the platform’s proactive measures to combat abuse and its collaboration with the newly established Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC). This committee aims to address concerns raised by Indian social media users, providing a forum for appealing decisions made by social media platforms.
WhatsApp reaffirmed its commitment to user safety, showcasing a dedicated team of professionals spanning various domains such as engineering, data science, law enforcement, and technology development to reinforce these efforts.
In a related update, a significant change for WhatsApp users on Android is imminent. Users will no longer be able to back up their chats for free on Google Drive, as these backups will start contributing to the user’s storage limits. This change, slated for implementation in the first half of the year, means that users relying on the free 15GB quota will need to consider additional storage through Google One to safeguard their conversations and memories.
This strategic shift aligns Android practices with the existing storage limitations in iPhone’s iCloud, urging users to explore Google One subscription plans for expanded storage capabilities.
The stringent actions by WhatsApp underscore its commitment to user safety, while the impending changes in chat backup policies signal a significant adjustment for Android users relying on Google Drive for data storage.
Read More… WhatsApp Data Backup on Google Drive: Changes Coming for Android Users