With more than 1.5 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp is the most preferred social media messaging application today.
However, being the go-to channel for internet users also comes bearing the risk of the platform turning into an instrument of cybercrime, if fallen into wrong hands. Which is why, the app has recently announced the removal of at least two million accounts each month ‘for bulk or automated behaviour and over 75% of those without recent user reports.’
In India alone, there are reportedly more than 200 million WhatsApp users. And it stands to logic that the more the users, the higher the chances of misuse or even abuse.
Thus, it was hardly any surprise—after reports suggested that political parties in India were abusing the service of WhatsApp ahead of the country’s general elections—the company warned them not to do so.
“We have seen a number of parties attempt to use WhatsApp in ways that it was not intended, and our firm message to them is that using it in that way will result in bans of our service,” said Carl Woog, the head of communications for WhatsApp.
It recently banned Telugu Desam Party’s Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament CM Ramesh from its platform on Feb. 13. While the politician has claimed that he did not violate any of WhatsApp’s terms of usage, the social media giant has not given any clarification.
Days later, the WhatsApp account of another politician from the same party was also banned. This had prompted the party to claim that “there is something fishy going on.”
Rumours and ‘hate messages’ circulated through WhatsApp have cost lives in India. And the company has made significant changes to make WhatsApp safer, and ban abusers of the platform.
Here are some of the reasons that may get you banned from using WhatsApp:
– Your account can be banned even if no other user has reported against it, but if it violates WhatsApp’s terms and conditions
-Sending illegal, obscene, defamatory or threatening messages
-Messages promoting violent crimes
-Creating a fake WhatsApp account of someone
-Sending too many messages to users who are not on your contact list
-If you try to alter or modify the core app code of WhatsApp.
-Using WhatsApp to send viruses or malware to other users
-Trying to hack WhatsApp servers or spying on someone
-If you get blocked by several users on WhatsApp.
-If WhatsApp receives a lot of user reports against you.
-Using malicious third-party apps like WhatsApp Plus.
“You must use our services according to our terms and posted policies. If we disable your account for a violation of our terms, you will not create another account without our permission,” states WhatsApp in its terms and policies.
