New Delhi: In accordance with the new IT Rules, 2021, which are currently being changed to place greater obligations on social media platforms, Meta-owned WhatsApp, which is now owned by Facebook, claimed on Tuesday that it blocked over 26 lakh accounts in India in the month of September.

According to third-party data, the messaging app in India has close to 500 million users. In September, 666 complaints were received there, with 23 of those records being “acted upon.”

“In accordance with the IT Rules 2021, we’ve published our report for the month of September 2022. This user-safety report contains details of the user complaints received and the corresponding action taken by WhatsApp, as well as WhatsApp’s own preventive actions to combat abuse on our platform,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.

In August, the platform in India banned nearly 23 lakh malicious accounts.

Major digital and social media sites with more than five million users must provide monthly compliance reports under the updated IT Rules 2021.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT has announced several revisions aimed at defending the rights of “Digital Nagriks” in the meanwhile, as part of a major drive towards an open, safe, trusted, and accountable Internet.

Social media intermediaries are only required to warn users about not publishing a limited range of hazardous or illegal content at this time.

As a result of the revisions, intermediaries are now required by law to make reasonable measures to stop users from submitting such content.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a Union Minister, said that it is essential to defend Indian citizens’ fundamental rights.

The Ministry conducted a thorough public consultation process that included input from all interested parties before notifying the public of the modifications.

The additional clauses will make sure that the intermediary’s obligation is more than just a legal requirement.