Govt Flags Alarm as WhatsApp Bans Nearly 1 Crore Indian Numbers Every Month

New Delhi: WhatsApp is banning close to one crore Indian phone numbers every month because they are linked to spam, scams or cyber fraud, according to reports. This huge number points to deep-rooted misuse of the messaging platform in India. 

Why is the government asking for banned numbers?

According to the Department of Telecommunications, around 29 lakh WhatsApp profiles and groups were blocked on the government's instructions by November this year. In these cases, the government is aware of the information about the closed numbers. WhatsApp also proactively bans a large number of accounts but only publishes general compliance reports detailing the number of accounts banned.

The government is now pushing WhatsApp to share more details about these banned numbers. Officials say this information could help law enforcement trace fraudsters and prevent them from simply shifting to other apps like Telegram after being blocked. They insist they are not asking for personal user data, only the metadata needed to investigate fake accounts. 

Government sources say many fraud cases seen on encrypted platforms start on WhatsApp. After a WhatsApp account is shut, scammers often restart on another messaging app without facing consequences. Detailed data about banned numbers could help authorities connect the dots across platforms. 

What does WhatsApp say about sharing data?

WhatsApp has told Indian authorities it cannot readily hand over details of banned accounts because of end-to-end encryption and legal limits on how much information it can share. The company publishes monthly transparency reports that show how many accounts are removed, but it does not disclose the identities or numbers involved.

Tech and safety teams at WhatsApp also argue that blocking accounts is part of their efforts to keep the platform safe for millions of users. These bans target spam, fake profiles, and harmful activity under global safety rules.  

How big is the fraud problem in India?

India has seen a rise in cyber fraud recently, with tens of thousands of complaints flagged against messaging apps. Many scams involve impersonation, fake calls, job frauds or digital arrest tricks that scare victims into paying money. Authorities have repeatedly said improved cooperation with tech companies is key to stopping these schemes. 

Officials are weighing whether stronger rules or enforcement steps are needed to compel platforms to share more actionable information with law enforcement, without undermining user privacy. The debate touches on encryption, platform responsibility and citizen safety.