Why in news?

The Union Home Ministry has asked WhatsApp to implement measures like blocking device IDs, detecting scams, and strengthening AI tools to curb the rising menace of “digital arrest” scams in India.

A high-level Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC), set up by the Union Home Ministry in December 2025, met with WhatsApp representatives and asked the platform to implement these measures.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What is a Digital Arrest Scam?
• Background: Government’s Response
• Key Measures WhatsApp Has Been Asked to Implement
• SIM Binding Directive — A Separate but Related Order
• WhatsApp's Commitments to Law Enforcement

What is Digital Arrest Scam?

• In a digital arrest scam, fraudsters:
  • Impersonate law enforcement officers (CBI, police, ATS, etc.) on video calls.
  • Tell victims they are under investigation for serious crimes.
  • Psychologically trap them and coerce them into transferring large sums of money to avoid "arrest".
• These scams are entirely fake — no real agency conducts arrests over video calls.
• How Big is the Problem?
  • 1.23 lakh cases of digital arrest were recorded in 2024 alone — nearly three times the number in 2022.
  • Total estimated losses: nearly ₹3,000 crore.
  • The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance (acted on its own) of the issue in October 2024, expressing "grave concern".
  • Fraudsters use mule accounts (third-party bank accounts) to move crores across banks and state borders within minutes, making them hard to trace.

Background: Government’s Response

• The Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) was constituted by the Union Home Ministry in December 2025
• It brings together multiple government departments to tackle digital arrest scams in a coordinated manner
• The third meeting of this committee took place recently, where WhatsApp representatives made detailed submissions about the platform's existing detection and enforcement mechanisms.

Key Measures WhatsApp Has Been Asked to Implement

• WhatsApp has been asked to implement various measures to tackle the threat of digital arrest, including the impersonation of law enforcement officers to perpetrate the scam.
• Blocking Device IDs of Repeat Offenders
  • WhatsApp has been asked to assess and block the Device IDs (unique identifiers of phones/devices) used in digital arrest scams.
  • This would prevent repeat offenders from simply creating new accounts on new or the same devices.
  • A detailed proposal is expected within 45 days.
• Skype-like Safety Features
  • WhatsApp has been asked to introduce safety features similar to Microsoft's Skype, including:
    • More information about who is calling
    • Warning signals for suspicious or unverified accounts
    • Better detection of scam networks
  • A proposal on these features is expected within 30 days.
• Retaining Deleted Account Data
  • WhatsApp must ensure user data from deleted accounts is retained for at least 180 days, as required under IT Rules, 2021.
  • This is critical for law enforcement agencies investigating fraud cases.
• Blocking Harmful APK Files
  • APK files are Android app installation files — scammers often use malicious APKs to gain access to victims' devices.
  • WhatsApp has been asked to strengthen its technology to detect and block such harmful files and similar content.
  • Technical measures are expected within one month.
• AI & Machine Learning to Detect Impersonation
  • WhatsApp is expanding its AI and machine learning systems to detect:
    • Impersonation of law enforcement officers
    • Misuse of official logos (Delhi Police, Mumbai Police, CBI, ATS, etc.)
    • Synthetic or AI-generated/deepfake content used in video call scams
  • The platform has already deployed logo detection and media matching systems to identify and remove impersonating accounts.
  • Periodic progress updates will be shared with the government.

SIM Binding Directive — A Separate but Related Order

• In November 2025, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directed all app-based communication platforms — WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat — to implement SIM binding.
  • SIM binding (SIM linkage) means the app can only be used with one specific, active SIM card, eliminating anonymous or multi-device misuse.
• This strengthens user traceability and national security compliance.
• WhatsApp has committed to implementing this within 4–6 months and submitting an Action Taken Report (ATR) by March-end.

WhatsApp's Commitments to Law Enforcement

• Timely response to flagged fraud networks and impersonation reports.
• Compliance with updated IT Rules for identification and labelling of AI-generated or deepfake content.
• Enhanced cooperation with investigative agencies on digital extortion cases.