The Indian government has directed WhatsApp, owned by Meta, to bolster its security measures in response to the surge in digital arrest scams. According to a report by The Indian Express, the Supreme Court highlighted that over ₹54,000 Cr has been lost to digital frauds, equating them to serious crimes like robbery.
The Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) has given WhatsApp a 30-day deadline to propose technical and safety enhancements. These upgrades include blocking fraudulent device IDs, retaining data of deleted accounts for 180 days, and introducing new features to identify scams and AI-generated content.
The committee has specifically mandated WhatsApp to fortify its systems to detect and block harmful APKs, prevent the dissemination of malicious files, and enhance its AI capabilities to identify deep fakes and synthetic content. Additionally, the messaging platform will implement features akin to Skype for video calls, offering more caller information and flagging suspicious accounts.
WhatsApp has committed to complying with these directives, aiming to curb the spread of digital extortion attempts and mitigate prolonged scam calls. By deploying logo detection and media matching systems, the platform seeks to enhance its defenses against fraudulent activities.
Source: Inc42 Media