In July, WhatsApp banned more than 23.8 lakh Indian accounts

In July, WhatsApp banned over 23.87 lakh Indian accounts, over 14 lakh of which were proactively removed without user complaint, the messaging service announced on Thursday. The figures for July are the highest so far this fiscal year.

On the basis of complaints received through its grievance redressal channel and through its own process to detect infractions, WhatsApp blocked over 22 lakh Indian accounts in June.

Previously, WhatsApp had blocked 19 lakh such accounts in May, 16 lakh in April, and 18.05 lakh in March.

Large digital platforms (with more than 50 lakh users) are required by the stricter IT regulations, which went into effect last year, to produce compliance reports each month that include information about complaints received and actions taken.

Concerns about digital platforms acting arbitrarily by removing content and “de-platforming” people have occasionally been raised as well.

In order to protect consumers against arbitrary content moderation, inaction, or takedown choices made by major internet corporations, the government is currently developing new social media regulations.

WhatsApp claimed that in addition to listening to user concerns and taking appropriate action in response, it also uses tools and resources to stop harmful behavior on the network.

The user-safety report includes information on the complaints received, WhatsApp’s response, and its own preventative measures to deal with abuse on the platform.

In June, the IT ministry released a draught set of regulations that calls for a tribunal to hear user appeals against judgments made by social media platform grievance officers about the content or against inaction on submitted complaints.

Last year, the government announced IT regulations to hold digital intermediaries more accountable and responsible for the content that is uploaded on their platforms.

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