WhatsApp Bans 20M Indian Accounts—An alarming Monthly Trend

WhatsApp's monthly reports for the first three months of 2023 and 2024 show a significant increase in banned accounts in India. These reports, required under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, shed light on WhatsApp's efforts to uphold community standards and user safety.

In January 2024, over 6.7 million WhatsApp accounts were banned, followed by 7.6 million in February and nearly 8 million in March. This adds up to a striking total of over 22 million banned accounts in the first three months of 2024. These WhatsApp bans mark a substantial increase compared to the same period in 2023, where around 2.9 million accounts were banned in January, followed by 4.6 million in February and 4.7 million in March, totaling around 12.2 million banned accounts.

WhatsApp states that accounts are banned if their activity violates the Terms of Service, such as engaging in spam, scams, or activities that jeopardise user safety. To ensure compliance, WhatsApp urges users to review the ‘Acceptable Use of Our Services’ section within the Terms of Service. Additionally, WhatsApp emphasises the importance of account security and encourages users to promptly report any unauthorised use.

However, the surge in banned social media accounts highlights the significant challenge platforms face in maintaining user safety and addressing misuse, especially in countries like India with large user bases. As of March 2024, India leads globally in WhatsApp usage, boasting over 530 million monthly active users, making it the country with the highest number of users on the platform.