WhatsApp has banned almost 10 million accounts in India during January 2025 as part of its ongoing efforts to combat spam, scams, and other forms of misuse on the platform. The Meta-owned messaging giant revealed the numbers in its latest compliance report, highlighting its commitment to maintaining security and integrity.
The ban comes in response to repeated violations of WhatsApp’s terms of service and aligns with India’s IT regulations. As a critical communication platform for millions across India, WhatsApp has faced ongoing challenges in tackling fraudulent activities, bulk messaging, and impersonation scams. To address these issues, the company has intensified its monitoring processes and adopted proactive enforcement measures. This report explores the details of the ban, the reasons behind it, and its potential impact on WhatsApp’s user base in India.
WhatsApp accounts banned in India: Check details
Out of the 9.9 million accounts banned, 1.3 million were proactively removed before receiving any user complaints. WhatsApp employs automated systems to detect suspicious behaviour, such as bulk messaging or abuse, which often signals potential misuse. These proactive measures aim to prevent harmful activities before they escalate.
In addition to automated bans, WhatsApp received 9,474 user complaints in January, addressing issues ranging from spam to account misuse. Of these, 239 complaints led to account bans or other corrective actions, such as responding to users via email or through WhatsApp’s India Grievance Officer.
Abuse detection on WhatsApp operates at three stages
In its monthly report, WhatsApp said that abuse detection of the platform operates in three stages of an account’s lifestyle. “The abuse detection operates at three stages of an account’s lifestyle: at registration, during messaging, and in response to negative feedback, which we receive in the form of user reports and blocks. A team of analysts augments these systems to evaluate edge cases and help improve our effectiveness over time,” said the company.
How to avoid your WhatsApp account from getting banned
To avoid account bans, WhatsApp advises users to refrain from sending bulk messages, engaging in spam, or violating the platform’s terms of service. Users are also encouraged to report spam messages or scam calls immediately to help maintain a safer environment.