In 2023, the surge in online scams grabbed headlines, with fraudsters exploiting WhatsApp to target victims. The situation became so dire that the Indian government intervened, urging action from the messaging giant. WhatsApp responded with a staggering move, banning more than 71 lakh dubious accounts in India during November 2023, per an IANS report in compliance with the new IT Rules 2021.
The company proactively enforced bans on 19,54,000 accounts between November 1 to November 30, even before receiving user reports, detailed in its monthly compliance report. With a user base surpassing 500 million in India, WhatsApp handled 8,841 complaint reports in November. These reports triggered actions by WhatsApp, either banning or reinstating accounts based on corrective measures.
WhatsApp’s user-safety report divulged insights into complaints received and the platform’s corresponding actions. It outlined preventive measures to curb abuse and introduced the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) to address concerns raised by Indian social media users. This committee will handle appeals from users contesting decisions made by social media platforms.
The platform underlined its commitment to preventing abuse, relying on a dedicated team spanning engineers, data scientists, analysts, and law enforcement experts. However, significant changes loom for Android users reliant on Google Drive for chat backups.
Google’s decision to count WhatsApp chat backups toward users’ Google Drive storage limits, starting this year’s first half, impacts those relying on the free 15GB quota. This alteration pushes users to consider additional storage via WhatsApp’s Google One subscriptions, aligning Android practices with iPhone’s iCloud storage limitations.
Google One offers three main plans on a monthly or annual basis, reflecting a strategic shift in storage practices. As the landscape evolves, users must adapt storage strategies to safeguard their conversations and memories.
This article bridges the critical moments of WhatsApp’s decisive actions against scams and the consequential shift in storage practices impacting millions of users. WhatsApp’s pivotal role in safeguarding user experiences while navigating regulatory and storage challenges is vital for users seeking clarity amid these changes.
Discussion about this post