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9,400 accounts banned after dedicated probe found links to digital arrests, WhatsApp document in Supreme Court says
WhatsApp told the Home Ministry that its independent investigations led to banning up to 9,400 accounts linked to digital arrests and impersonations of law enforcement. The company said it aimed to dismantle the entire scam network rather than just shut down seed accounts, noting most activity was in Cambodia. The disclosures were presented to the Supreme Court and reported on April 28, 2026.
Why It Matters
The disclosure highlights the platform's approach to countering digital scams and impersonations, and shows interaction between a tech company and India's judiciary on cross-border criminal networks.
Timeline
1 Event
WhatsApp reports 9,400 accounts banned linked to digital arrests and impersonations to Supreme Court
April 28, 2026
Documents placed on record in the Supreme Court showed WhatsApp asserting to the Home Ministry that it detected and banned up to 9,400 accounts linked to ‘digital arrests’ and ‘law enforcement impersonations’ after independent investigations. The platform said rather than focus and shut down the seed, it had focussed on bringing down the entire network of scamsters, mostly active in Cambodia.