Over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in scams, fraud, fake messages, fake links, and digital arrests. These scams are commonly perpetrated through WhatsApp, especially digital arrests. Scammers pretend to be police or government officials and make video calls to people via WhatsApp to deceive, intimidate, and extort money. Scammers then trap people in false crimes, place them under digital surveillance, and attempt to extort money. This is known as digital arrest. The central government has now decided to curb these practices.

In the future, WhatsApp may block device IDs used in scams like "digital arrest." Furthermore, security features like Skype-like implementation and the ability to identify and block dangerous APK files may also be implemented. The Home Ministry's high-level inter-departmental committee has directed WhatsApp to implement certain features to prevent frauds like "digital arrest." WhatsApp has agreed to implement these suggestions, and work on some features has already begun. The issue was discussed in detail at the committee's third meeting earlier this month.

Proposal sought within 30 days
WhatsApp has been directed to submit proposals for these new features within 30 days. Apart from this, a separate proposal has been asked to be submitted within 45 days for a new mechanism to block device IDs used in digital arrest cases. In digital arrest scams, scammers pose as fake police or investigation agency officials and scare the victim into transferring money to different bank accounts. In view of the increasing incidents of cyber fraud, the Department of Telecommunications had issued a new rule on November 28 last year. Under this, apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and Snapchat were directed to link their user accounts to an active SIM card. WhatsApp may implement this rule in the next 4 to 6 months.

Five new features will be introduced:

Device Blocking: The devices of the accused who are digitally arrested will be identified and their ID will be blocked.

Security Features: Many security features like Skype will be implemented on WhatsApp.

Data Security: User data for deleted accounts will be retained for at least 180 days.

Blocking dangerous files: A way to identify and block dangerous APK files will be created.

Use of AI: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning systems will be strengthened to identify fake content.

PC: Navarashtra