The Union government has initiated discussions with WhatsApp after the platform banned a large number of Indian accounts this year, raising concerns over the continued misuse of Indian mobile numbers for online fraud and cybercrime.
According to officials cited by The Economic Times, WhatsApp has been blocking an average of 9.8 million Indian accounts every month till October 2025 for policy violations. While the platform publishes monthly compliance reports, authorities say the lack of details on the specific mobile numbers linked to these bans is hindering investigations into scams and digital fraud.
Nearly 1 crore accounts blocked monthly
Data from WhatsApp’s monthly reports shows significant enforcement action in India, its largest global market. Between January and October 2025, monthly bans ranged from 8.2 million to over 11.2 million accounts, primarily triggered by behavioural signals indicating spam or scam activity.
However, officials noted that WhatsApp categorises accounts only by the +91 country code and does not share even basic information about the numbers disabled. This makes it difficult to verify whether the numbers were genuine or fraudulently obtained.
Fraudsters shift to other OTT platforms
Government officials said banned numbers often resurface on other over-the-top (OTT) messaging platforms, particularly Telegram, where they continue to be used for impersonation and financial fraud.
They pointed out that once an account is created on such platforms using a mobile number, it can function without an active SIM card, complicating efforts to trace offenders. Officials estimate that nearly 95% of digital arrest and impersonation scams are currently carried out via WhatsApp.
Focus on SIM verification and KYC
Authorities said tracing SIM issuance and verifying know-your-customer (KYC) details are central to curbing the misuse of Indian numbers. “We have to balance convenience against security implications,” an official said, adding that discussions are underway with WhatsApp and other platforms to address the issue.
Separately, the government routinely directs platforms to block accounts involved in illegal activities. Data from the Department of Telecommunications shows nearly 2.9 million WhatsApp profiles and groups were disengaged following official directions till November 2025.
Transparency and accountability questioned
Rakesh Maheshwari, former senior director at the Ministry of Electronics and IT, said monthly compliance reports were introduced to ensure platform accountability. He added that the government has the right to seek deeper information if emerging patterns pose security risks.
WhatsApp has maintained that due to end-to-end encryption, enforcement relies on behavioural indicators and that technical and legal constraints limit data sharing