WhatsApp to remove 2 million accounts without recent user reports

February 7: WhatsApp users just check this news item. WhatsApp is banning accounts that send a high volume of messages. Facebook-owned WhatsApp is removing at least two million accounts each month for bulk or automated behaviour and over 75 per cent of those without recent user reports.

According to the messaging company, this initiative is extremely important during the elections as certain groups might try to send out bulk messages. WhatsApp said in a statement on Thursday, “While there are many actors trying to abuse the free service we provide, we are constantly advancing our anti-abuse operations to keep the platform safe.” It further stated, “For example, our systems can detect if a similar phone number has been recently abused or if the computer network used for registration has been associated with suspicious behaviour.”

WhatsApp which has over 200 million users in India aims to understand the behavioural cues indicating bulk registrations. WhatsApp recently hired Abhijit Bose to lead India operations who will grow a local team that can further develop relationships with civil society and respond to the government on a timely basis.