Govt to send notice to WhatsApp over unsolicited calls from unknown international numbers – Times of India
NEW DELHI: The government has decided to send a notice to WhatsApp on the issue of unsolicited spam calls to its users from unknown international numbers, with minister of state for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar saying that the onus of user safety lies with digital platforms.
The digital platforms are responsible and accountable for ensuring the safety of ‘digital nagriks’, the minister said, adding that the government will respond to every instance of alleged misuse or alleged breach of users’ privacy.
The minister’s comments assume significance as WhatsApp users in India have reported a massive surge in incoming international spam calls over the past few days. Many users complained on Twitter that a major chunk of these spam calls had country codes belonging to Indonesia (+62), Vietnam (+84), Malaysia (+60), Kenya (+254) and Ethiopia (+251). Chandrasekhar has said the ministry is taking note of the matter and will send a notice to WhatsApp on the issue.
“The ministry is taking note of it, they will send them a notice,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event organised by the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI).
He also said that the government is mulling guidelines on what should be permissions for preloaded apps.
The minister made it clear that the platforms are responsible for ensuring the safety and trust of users. “I have said repeatedly that openness trust, safety and accountability are the responsibility of platforms who deliver to digital nagriks,” the minister said.
If there is an issue of spam, it is certainly an issue WhatsApp should look at or any messenger platform should look at, he added. “Government will respond to every alleged misuse or alleged breach of privacy,” he said.
One of the problems being examined at this point is also how these numbers are accessed by scammers. “How are they able to identify which numbers are on WhatsApp … are they doing it blindly…is it some database they have got? If there is a database it is a violation of privacy, or if not are they are doing it through a bot … sending messages to random numbers … But that is certainly something platforms will be asked to look at,” he said.
Chandrasekhar tweeted on Wednesday that the government will investigate a claim that WhatsApp accessed the microphone of smartphone users while the phone was not in use. In a tweet, the minister had said the government will examine the alleged breach of privacy even as the new Digital Personal Data Protection Bill was being readied.
On its part, WhatsApp promised to reduce by half the unsolicited and unrecognised calls from the international numbers to its subscribers. The company said it is using technology such as AI and machine learning to counter the menace. “… we have quickly ramped up our AI & ML systems to bring down such incidents significantly. Our new enforcement will reduce the current calling rate by at least 50% and we expect to be able to control the current incidence effectively. We will continue to work relentlessly towards ensuring a safe experience for our users.”
The digital platforms are responsible and accountable for ensuring the safety of ‘digital nagriks’, the minister said, adding that the government will respond to every instance of alleged misuse or alleged breach of users’ privacy.
The minister’s comments assume significance as WhatsApp users in India have reported a massive surge in incoming international spam calls over the past few days. Many users complained on Twitter that a major chunk of these spam calls had country codes belonging to Indonesia (+62), Vietnam (+84), Malaysia (+60), Kenya (+254) and Ethiopia (+251). Chandrasekhar has said the ministry is taking note of the matter and will send a notice to WhatsApp on the issue.
“The ministry is taking note of it, they will send them a notice,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event organised by the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI).
He also said that the government is mulling guidelines on what should be permissions for preloaded apps.
The minister made it clear that the platforms are responsible for ensuring the safety and trust of users. “I have said repeatedly that openness trust, safety and accountability are the responsibility of platforms who deliver to digital nagriks,” the minister said.
If there is an issue of spam, it is certainly an issue WhatsApp should look at or any messenger platform should look at, he added. “Government will respond to every alleged misuse or alleged breach of privacy,” he said.
One of the problems being examined at this point is also how these numbers are accessed by scammers. “How are they able to identify which numbers are on WhatsApp … are they doing it blindly…is it some database they have got? If there is a database it is a violation of privacy, or if not are they are doing it through a bot … sending messages to random numbers … But that is certainly something platforms will be asked to look at,” he said.
Chandrasekhar tweeted on Wednesday that the government will investigate a claim that WhatsApp accessed the microphone of smartphone users while the phone was not in use. In a tweet, the minister had said the government will examine the alleged breach of privacy even as the new Digital Personal Data Protection Bill was being readied.
On its part, WhatsApp promised to reduce by half the unsolicited and unrecognised calls from the international numbers to its subscribers. The company said it is using technology such as AI and machine learning to counter the menace. “… we have quickly ramped up our AI & ML systems to bring down such incidents significantly. Our new enforcement will reduce the current calling rate by at least 50% and we expect to be able to control the current incidence effectively. We will continue to work relentlessly towards ensuring a safe experience for our users.”
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