Meta-owned WhatsApp has reported a record-breaking action against over 71 lakh accounts in India during November 2023, aligning with the new IT Rules 2021, as revealed in the company’s monthly compliance report. Among these, 19,54,000 accounts were proactively banned, indicating the platform’s commitment to user safety even before receiving user reports.
In the given time frame of November 1-30, WhatsApp, with over 500 million users in India, received a noteworthy 8,841 complaint reports. The term “Accounts Actioned” in the report signifies instances where remedial action was taken based on the received complaints. This action can involve either banning an account or restoring a previously banned account.
The report also highlights the company’s dedication to user safety, emphasizing its role as an industry leader in preventing and combating abuse among end-to-end encrypted messaging services. WhatsApp employs a multidisciplinary team, including engineers, data scientists, analysts, researchers, and experts in law enforcement, online safety, and technology developments to oversee these efforts.
The article further notes the recent establishment of the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) by the Indian government to address concerns of social media users. The GAC will handle appeals by users against decisions made by social media platforms, marking a move to strengthen the country’s digital laws and regulate Big Tech companies.The news, originally published in the Free Press Journal on January 1, 2024, underscores WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to maintain a secure and user-friendly environment, in line with the evolving digital landscape and regulatory framework in India.
Unauthorized Access: FIR Filed as Cybercriminal Exploits 401 Prefix Code:
The news, originally published in the Free Press Journal on Dec 22, 2023,
Mira-Bhayandar: Legislator Geeta Jain faced a harrowing experience as her WhatsApp account was hacked by a cyber fraudster who posed as a courier executive, manipulating her contacts in a money scam. After attending the Winter Session of the state assembly, Jain’s personal assistant received a call from the imposter, who, under the guise of addressing a parcel issue, convinced him to dial a prefixed code 401 on Jain’s phone. Within 15 minutes, her WhatsApp was compromised, and the hacker, claiming Jain needed urgent financial assistance, attempted to extort money from her contacts using a QR code. Fortunately, the contacts exercised caution, avoiding any financial losses. This incident underscores the increasing threat of cybercrime, prompting the need for enhanced digital security measures. Additionally, the mention of another case using the same prefix code serves as a stark example of the prevailing vulnerability to such online threats.
