Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has revealed that it took action against more than 79 lakh accounts in India during the month of March, in accordance with the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
According to IANS report, between March 1 and March 31, a staggering 7,954,000 accounts were banned, with 1,430,000 of them being proactively banned before receiving any user reports.
The platform, boasting over 500 million users in India, received a record-breaking 12,782 complaint reports in March alone. However, only 11 of these complaints resulted in action being taken by WhatsApp.
The term “Accounts Actioned” refers to reports where WhatsApp took remedial action based on complaints received. This action could either involve banning an account or restoring a previously banned account.
Explaining their approach to addressing grievances, WhatsApp stated, “We respond to all grievances received except in cases where a grievance is deemed to be a duplicate of a previous ticket.”
During the previous month of February (February 1-29), WhatsApp had banned 7,628,000 accounts, with 1,424,000 of them being proactively banned.
WhatsApp emphasized its commitment to user safety by highlighting the employment of a diverse team comprising engineers, data scientists, analysts, researchers, and experts in law enforcement, online safety, and technology developments to oversee their efforts in ensuring a secure platform.
As WhatsApp continues its efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment for its users, the platform remains vigilant in addressing complaints and taking appropriate action against violators of its policies.