In a major step to ensure user safety and uphold platform integrity, WhatsApp has announced the banning of over 98 lakh accounts in India during June 2025. This proactive approach is part of the messaging platform’s ongoing campaign to eliminate abuse, spam, and harmful behavior.
Proactive Measures Lead the Way
Of the 98 lakh accounts banned, approximately 19.79 lakh were removed proactively — without waiting for user complaints. WhatsApp’s internal systems flagged these accounts based on patterns of misuse and policy violations. The platform’s automated tools operate at multiple checkpoints, including account registration, message transmission, and user interaction, making it possible to detect potential abuse early.
Thousands of User Complaints Addressed
During the month, WhatsApp received a total of 23,596 user complaints from India. These reports included issues ranging from appeals against bans to concerns over user safety and app performance. After reviewing these complaints, WhatsApp took direct action on 1,001 cases. Notably, 16,069 of the complaints were specifically related to account bans, with 756 of them resulting in account reinstatement or further enforcement action.
India’s IT Rules and WhatsApp’s Compliance
WhatsApp publishes monthly compliance reports in accordance with India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These reports reflect the platform’s responsibility toward maintaining transparency, user rights, and community standards. By taking both reactive and preventive measures, WhatsApp aims to make the app a safer space for over 500 million users in India.
Meta Faces Antitrust Scrutiny in Europe
In related news, Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, is facing an investigation by Italy’s competition watchdog — the Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM). The regulator has launched a formal inquiry into Meta’s integration of its AI assistant into WhatsApp’s search bar, introduced in March 2025.
Concerns Over AI Integration and Fair Competition
The AGCM believes that Meta may have leveraged its dominant market position by introducing its AI features without adequate user consent. By embedding the Meta AI assistant directly into WhatsApp, the regulator argues that users were effectively pushed toward Meta’s tools, leaving little room for rival services. This has sparked concerns over consumer choice and fair competition under European Union regulations.
A Balancing Act: Innovation vs Regulation
As messaging apps evolve to include AI and other intelligent services, regulators are closely watching how tech giants implement these features. The outcome of the Meta investigation could have broader implications for how AI is deployed across digital platforms, especially those with large user bases like WhatsApp.
Final Thoughts
WhatsApp’s aggressive action against misuse in India highlights its commitment to platform safety and transparency. At the same time, regulatory scrutiny in Europe signals growing concern over big tech’s use of AI — reminding us that innovation must always balance with ethics and user rights.
