Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar has announced that the IT Ministry will send a notice to WhatsApp over the issue of spam calls from unknown international numbers.
This comes in response to reports of a surge in spam calls from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Kenya, and Ethiopia to Indian WhatsApp users in recent days. The minister stressed that the responsibility of ensuring user safety lies with digital platforms and that the government will respond to every alleged misuse or breach of privacy.
Chandrasekhar also revealed that the government is considering guidelines on permissions for preloaded apps. He emphasized that openness, trust, safety, and accountability are the responsibility of platforms that deliver to digital citizens.
The minister questioned how WhatsApp is able to identify which numbers are on the platform and whether it is doing so blindly or through a database or bot. He noted that if there is a database, it would be a violation of privacy, while if a bot is being used to send messages to random numbers, the platforms will be asked to look into it.
The minister also tweeted that the government would investigate a claim that WhatsApp accessed smartphone users’ microphones while the phone was not in use. WhatsApp responded, saying that the issue was a bug on Android that misattributed information in the Privacy Dashboard and that users have full control over their mic settings.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said that the company has ramped up its AI and ML systems to bring down spam calls significantly. The spokesperson added that the company will continue to work towards ensuring a safe experience for users.
Chandrasekhar clarified that the self-regulatory organization (SRO) backed by the association IAMAI must be approved by the Ministry as meeting criteria laid down in online gaming rules. He explained that there would be 100 applicants, and three would be selected based on transparency, inclusivity, stakeholder representation, and credibility.
The move by the IT Ministry to send a notice to WhatsApp is a welcome step for Indian users who have been inundated with spam calls from international numbers. The government’s emphasis on ensuring user safety and privacy is a positive development and one that will be welcomed by the public. It remains to be seen how WhatsApp will respond to the notice and what measures the company will take to address the issue of spam calls.
