WhatsApp took action against nearly 7.5 million accounts in India throughout October 2023, in adherence to the guidelines set by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules of 2021. The platform recently disclosed its monthly report, covering the period from October 1 to October 31, 2023, outlining measures taken in response to user complaints and infringements of Indian laws or WhatsApp's terms.
In its comprehensive report, Meta's messaging service, WhatsApp, revealed its robust abuse detection systems operating throughout an account's lifecycle. The emphasis was on proactive measures for prevention. Shockingly, a staggering 7,548,000 accounts were banned in India during this period, with a significant portion--1,919,000 accounts--being preemptively banned before any user reports.
The report delved into the realm of user grievances, shedding light on the nature of complaints received and the subsequent actions initiated. A total of 9,063 reports were documented during this period, with the majority--4,771--pertaining to "Ban appeal." The remainder included issues like "Account support," "Other support," "Product support," and "Safety." Among these reports, only 12 accounts faced action, either through bans or account restorations, depending on the gravity of the complaint.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the directives received from the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC), indicating that WhatsApp complied with five orders during the same reporting period.
Comparatively, in the preceding month, from September 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023, a total of 7,111,000 WhatsApp accounts met the banhammer. Notably, 2,571,000 of these accounts were proactively banned without any user-reported issues, as revealed in the earlier WhatsApp report for September. The same period saw the platform receiving six orders from the Grievance Appellate Committee, all of which were duly adhered to by WhatsApp.
These actions spotlight the platform's commitment to maintaining compliance with regulations while actively addressing user concerns and enforcing stringent measures against violations of its terms and Indian laws.
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