WhatsApp has announced that it banned over 2.9 million accounts in India during the month of January to address misuse on its platform.
A representative from WhatsApp emphasized the company’s commitment to preventing abuse among end-to-end encrypted messaging services, stating, “WhatsApp is an industry leader in this area.”
The spokesperson detailed that WhatsApp has continuously enhanced its efforts to ensure user safety by investing in artificial intelligence, cutting-edge technology, and a team of data scientists and experts.
From January 1 to January 31, the company received 1,461 reports, which led to 195 cases being pursued. Among these reports, there were 51 inquiries related to account support, 1,337 regarding ban appeals, 45 concerning other support issues, and 21 related to product support.
In its statement, WhatsApp highlighted that in addition to addressing user complaints through its grievance channel, the company employs various tools and strategies to thwart harmful behaviors on the platform.
The company stated, “We prioritize prevention because we believe it’s far better to stop harmful activities before they occur than to identify them after the damage is done.”
The detection of abuse is carried out at three stages of an account’s lifecycle: upon registration, during messaging, and when responding to negative feedback through user reports and blocking actions.
“A dedicated team of analysts enhances these systems by evaluating edge cases, thereby improving our effectiveness over time,” added the spokesperson, mentioning that the company has outlined its capabilities for identifying and banning accounts in a white paper.
