WhatsApp to Implement Enhanced Safety Features Amid Digital Arrest Scam Concerns
New Delhi: The government has taken a significant step to curb the rising "digital arrest" scams across the country. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre has submitted a status report to the Supreme Court, detailing the joint actions undertaken by various agencies.
Over the past 12 weeks, WhatsApp has banned 9,400 accounts found to be involved in such fraudulent activities. Additionally, new security features are being introduced, including:
The Supreme Court of India had taken suo motu (on its own) cognizance of this matter. The bench is led by Justice Surya Kant, who has directed the RBI and the Department of Telecommunications to collaborate on formulating a concrete solution.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has formulated a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for banks. Under this protocol, suspicious transactions will be immediately halted to prevent the fraudulent funds from being transferred further.
The Department of Telecommunications and telecom companies are now working towards blocking suspicious SIM cards within 2–3 hours.
Furthermore, a Biometric Identity Verification System (BIVS) will be implemented to ensure strict oversight regarding the issuance of SIM cards.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will now investigate major cases of fraud. The CBI will take charge of cases involving fraud amounting to over ₹10 crore.
WhatsApp may soon introduce a "SIM-binding" feature. This feature will require the presence of an active and KYC-verified SIM card in the phone; otherwise, the application will not function. This will curb fake accounts.
The government, tech companies, and agencies are jointly fighting a major battle against digital fraud. New regulations and technology are expected to significantly curb such scams in the future.
