The central government has intensified its crackdown on illegal activities involving digital platforms like WhatsApp. Accounts linked to anti-national activities, banned organizations, and digital fraud are being blocked by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Once blocked, these accounts cannot be accessed or reopened, even by WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta.
As of November 15, 2024, the government has blocked over 6.69 lakh SIM cards and 1.32 lakh IMEI numbers. Among these, 59,000 WhatsApp accounts were identified and blocked for illegal usage. This initiative is spearheaded by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the MHA, ensuring a robust mechanism to combat digital fraud and misuse.
The MHA also revealed in Parliament that over 1,700 Skype IDs and 59,000 WhatsApp accounts used for scams have been blocked. However, state police and other agencies lack the authority to take similar actions, as these measures are exclusively managed by the central government.
Citizens can report fraudulent WhatsApp numbers directly through the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, operated under the MHA. Complaints related to scams involving WhatsApp accounts are commonly received by law enforcement, highlighting the growing need for vigilance against digital fraud.
