WhatsApp banned 7,214,702 Indian accounts in May 2026, according to its latest monthly transparency report released under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, per medianama.com. Of these, 1,379,438 accounts were proactively blocked before any user complaints were received.
The report details that WhatsApp received 19,859 user grievances in India during May but took action on only 399 accounts. Most complaints were ban appeals totaling 10,590, followed by other support requests at 8,378, account support with 519, safety complaints numbering 210, and product support at 162. WhatsApp restored or banned accounts in response to complaints, including 151 cases involving ban appeals and 244 following other support requests. The company did not act on any safety-related grievances, directing users instead to report abuse through its in-app system.
WhatsApp explained that grievances may not lead to action if they relate to account access issues, feature support, feedback, unsuccessful restoration requests, or if the reported accounts do not violate Indian law or WhatsApp’s terms. The report also notes that the Grievance Appellate Committee issued 15 orders to WhatsApp during May, all of which the company complied with, highlighting ongoing regulatory oversight in India’s digital communications space.
The transparency report underscores WhatsApp’s enforcement scale in India, with over 7.2 million accounts banned in a single month. The company’s next monthly transparency report is expected in early August, continuing to provide data on account moderation under India’s intermediary guidelines.