The government has initiated discussions with WhatsApp after the messaging platform blocked an exceptionally high number of Indian accounts, amid growing
concerns over the misuse of Indian mobile numbers for online fraud. According to officials familiar with the matter, WhatsApp banned an average of 9.8 million Indian accounts every month until October this year for violating platform policies. While the Meta-owned company publishes aggregate monthly figures, authorities say the lack of information about the mobile numbers linked to these banned accounts is hampering efforts to trace spam, scams, and cyber fraud, an ET report said. Monthly WhatsApp Account Bans in India (2025):
- January: 9.9 million
- February: 9.7 million
- March: 11.1 million
- April: 9.7 million
- May: 11.2 million
- June: 9.8 million
- July: 8.9 million
- August: 8.2 million
- September: 10.0 million
- October: 9.1 million
Source: WhatsApp monthly compliance reports, cited by ET
India is WhatsApp’s largest market, and officials say the platform’s refusal to share even basic information on banned numbers makes it difficult to determine whether those numbers are genuine or fraudulently obtained. WhatsApp classifies Indian accounts using the +91 country code and says bans are triggered by behavioural signals indicating policy violations, including suspected involvement in scams.
Government officials noted that many banned numbers resurface on other over-the-top (OTT) platforms, especially Telegram, where they continue to be used for fraudulent activities. The widespread misuse of Indian mobile numbers—by fraudsters operating both domestically and overseas—remains a significant challenge despite enforcement measures.
Most cyber fraud operations rely on OTT messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram. Once an account is created using a mobile number, these apps can operate without an active SIM card, making it extremely difficult for enforcement agencies to trace offenders. Officials said nearly 95% of digital arrest scams and impersonation cases occur on WhatsApp.
“There are concerns about how Indian numbers are being misused, and we are addressing those issues,” one official was quoted as saying. “The challenge is to strike a balance between user convenience and security risks.”
Authorities stressed that tracing when a SIM card was issued and verifying the authenticity of the associated KYC details is critical to tackling such fraud. Discussions are ongoing with WhatsApp and other OTT platforms to address these vulnerabilities.
Separately, the government regularly directs WhatsApp and other digital platforms to disable accounts involved in illegal activities. Data from the Department of Telecommunications shows that nearly 2.9 million WhatsApp profiles and groups were disengaged following government orders until November this year.
However, officials said there is limited visibility when WhatsApp independently bans accounts, as the platform only discloses aggregate numbers without identifying the mobile numbers affected. “We don’t need personal details—just the numbers that have been banned, so we can verify whether they are genuine,” another official said.
Rakesh Maheshwari, former senior director at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), said the purpose of monthly compliance reports was to improve transparency and platform accountability. “If those disclosures reveal issues that require deeper examination, the government has the right to seek additional information,” he said.
WhatsApp has maintained that due to end-to-end encryption, enforcement actions are based on platform-specific behavioural indicators. It has also cited technical, legal, and cross-border constraints in sharing detailed account-level information.
Officials, however, warned that reluctance to share even limited data could pose broader security risks, particularly as cyber fraud continues to surge across digital platforms.
