Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 4: WhatsApp has acknowledged that some users were mistakenly placed under a temporary account review after several people, including users in India, reported losing access to the messaging platform for up to 24 hours on Monday.
The issue surfaced around 8 pm IST, with affected users receiving an in-app notification stating that their accounts were under review to verify compliance with WhatsApp's Terms of Service. During the review period, users were unable to access the app's features and were informed that a decision would generally be made within 24 hours.
Responding to the complaints, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the company routinely takes action against accounts suspected of violating its policies but admitted that mistakes can occur.
"We are always working to stay ahead of those trying to abuse our service and ban accounts to help keep other users safe. Sometimes we get this wrong and if we do, we try to fix it as quickly as possible to get people back to chatting," the spokesperson said.
The review page also directed users to guidance on responsible use of WhatsApp and provided information on dealing with stolen devices and compromised accounts.
Several users expressed frustration on social media, saying their accounts had been placed under review without warning despite using only the official WhatsApp application. Some claimed the disruption had affected their work, while others said they had submitted appeals but received no immediate explanation.
The incident triggered widespread discussion online, with users from India and other countries reporting similar temporary restrictions.
Separately, Meta reportedly told a parliamentary committee that it was prepared to apologise over the brief restriction placed on a Facebook post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During a meeting of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, lawmakers questioned the company over its compliance with Indian laws and demanded greater accountability.