In a proactive measure against the escalating threat of online scams, WhatsApp announced the banning of more than 71 lakh accounts in India during November 2023. This significant action, aligned with the new IT Rules 2021, reflects the messaging platform's commitment to user safety and compliance with regulatory frameworks.

The surge in online scams, particularly through WhatsApp, appears to be a key factor driving this mass account banning. Even before receiving user reports, WhatsApp took swift action by proactively banning 19,54,000 accounts from November 1 to 30. With over 500 million users in India, WhatsApp faced 8,841 complaint reports in November alone.

The term 'accounts actioned' encompasses various corrective measures, including both bans and reinstatements. The introduction of the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) by the Centre further underscores the government's efforts to address concerns raised by millions of Indian social media users.

WhatsApp, acknowledging the gravity of the situation, maintains a dedicated team to prevent and combat abuse on its platform. Additionally, Android users will no longer enjoy free chat backups, a service previously provided by Google. 

Going forward, these backups will contribute to users' Google Drive storage limits, necessitating consideration of additional storage through WhatsApp via Google One—a move aligning Android practices with iPhone's iCloud storage limitations. Google One offers three main subscription plans on both monthly and annual bases, providing users with flexibility in managing their storage needs.