The Indian government has announced that it will send a notice to WhatsApp regarding the issue of international spam calls on the messaging platform. The announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar at an event organized by the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI). This comes after several users have reported receiving spam and scam calls from unknown international numbers from countries such as Kenya, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Ethiopia.
In response, WhatsApp has stated that protecting the privacy and security of users is fundamental to the company and that it is fully aligned with the government’s goal of keeping users safe. The messaging platform has also highlighted the safety tools within the app, such as the Block & Report options, and its efforts to educate users about safety and awareness. However, bad actors continue to find ways to scam users, including through international spam calls.
Announcement of WhatsApp:
WhatsApp has now announced that it will ramp up its AI and ML systems to bring down such incidents significantly. The company expects the new enforcement to reduce the current calling rate by at least 50% and effectively control the current incidence. By doing so, WhatsApp hopes to provide a safer and more secure messaging platform for its users.
The issue of spam and scam calls is not new to WhatsApp, and the company has taken steps to address it in the past. For example, in 2020, WhatsApp introduced a new feature that allowed users to verify forwarded messages and avoid spreading misinformation. The company has also taken legal action against those who misuse the platform for malicious purposes.
However, the problem of spam and scam calls persists, and it is important for both WhatsApp and the government to work together to address it. The ramping up of WhatsApp’s AI and ML systems is a positive step, and it is hoped that it will lead to a significant reduction in spam and scam calls on the platform. Comment in the section below if you have more queries on the same and stay tuned for more such news and updates.
