WhatsApp to block misuse of logos to curb ‘digital arrest’

New Delhi: Social media major WhatsApp has told the Union govt that it has deployed artificial intelligence-based logo detection and media matching system to identify and remove accounts impersonating law enforcement agencies to threaten senior citizens with 'digital arrest' and rob them of their life savings.

Attorney general R Venkataramani filed the status report on behalf of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under ministry of home affairs (MHA), after the interdepartmental committee deliberated measures to curb "digital arrest" scams with department of telecom, Reserve Bank of India, ministry of information technology, representatives of telecom service providers and WhatsApp.

The statement of WhatsApp is significant as the encrypted messaging service has been used in diverse jurisdictions to avoid detection.

On the discussion with the social media major, the status report said, "WhatsApp will continue strengthening AI/ML-based systems to detect impersonation of law enforcement agencies, misuse of official logos."

"WhatsApp informed that detection models and warning mechanisms have been introduced to identify impersonation patterns and alert users in suspicious interactions," the report said, adding that the popular social media platform assured to undertake additional safeguards to detect and mitigate prolonged scam calls, as seen in digital arrest cases, and submit proposed technical measures within a month.

"WhatsApp further ensured to cooperate with Law Enforcement Agencies and I4C, including timely action on shared signals related to scam networks, impersonation of law enforcement agencies, and fraudulent activities conducted through the platform," it said.

The status report detailed a series of steps under implementation - biometric identity verification prior to issuance of SIM cards by all telecom service providers (TSPs) and national database on SIM card holders of all TSPs. "DoT, in coordination with TSPs, to ensure that the technical system for national-level visibility of SIM issuance across operators is implemented within six months thereafter, so that the BIVS (Biometric Idenity Verification System)-based cross-operator SIM monitoring system becomes operational within a total period of nine months, before Dec 2026," it said.

In an important step to stop fake telemarketers and cybercriminals from using multiple SIMs, the Centre told the SC that TSPs have been asked to "develop mechanisms to prevent misuse of multiple PoS (Point of Sale) identities by the same individual, including improved identity verification and PoS traceability "measures."

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