WhatsApp, the globally renowned messaging platform owned by Meta, has taken a significant step to safeguard its users, closing over 20 million Indian accounts between January and March this year.

During this period, the platform enforced stringent measures to uphold user protection and adhere to community standards, resulting in the ban of a staggering number of accounts. The ban statistics reveal a progressive increase, with 6.728 thousand accounts banned in January, 7.628 thousand in February, and a peak of 79.54 lakh accounts in March alone. In total, 2 crore 23 lakh 10 thousand accounts were shut down in the first quarter of 2024.

WhatsApp emphasizes that these actions were carried out in accordance with its community standards and in compliance with IT laws. Accounts found to be in violation of WhatsApp's rules are subject to bans, rendering users unable to utilize the platform while still allowing them to view received messages.

To ensure transparency and understanding among users, WhatsApp urges individuals to review the 'Acceptable Use of Our Services' section, which outlines the platform's guidelines comprehensively. By familiarizing themselves with these guidelines, users can better comprehend WhatsApp's standards and contribute to a safer and more secure messaging environment.