In a major crackdown on policy violations, WhatsApp has banned over 8.3 million Indian accounts in the month of December 2024, as part of its ongoing efforts to curb misuse and ensure user safety.

This massive ban, disclosed in WhatsApp’s latest India Monthly Report under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, highlights the platform’s commitment to maintaining digital integrity, ANI has reported.

Of the total accounts banned, around 1.4 million were proactively removed before receiving any user complaints, thanks to WhatsApp‘s advanced AI-driven monitoring systems. These tools help detect suspicious behaviour patterns such as bulk messaging, spam, and automated bots that violate the platform’s terms of service.

The bans come amid increasing scrutiny of social media platforms by the Indian government, which has been pushing for stricter regulations on digital intermediaries. WhatsApp, with over 500 million users in India its largest market has been under pressure to ensure compliance with local laws while safeguarding user privacy.

The messaging giant revealed that it received over 12,000 user grievances in December, ranging from complaints about spam and harassment to misinformation and violations of user rights. Each complaint was reviewed, and necessary actions were taken in line with platform policies and legal requirements.