WhatsApp deletes over 6.8m accounts linked to scams, Meta says
WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Meta Platforms Inc., has recently announced the deletion of over 6.8 million accounts linked to fraudulent activities such as scams. Meta revealed that the sweep occurred from November 2021 to January 2022, targeting accounts that violated the platform’s policies by engaging in deceptive behavior.
According to Meta, these accounts were primarily involved in activities like sending bulk messages or auto-forwarding messages to mislead users. The company emphasized its commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for users by combating abuse and deception on the platform.
WhatsApp has faced increasing pressure to address the spread of misinformation and scams on its platform in recent years. This latest crackdown on fraudulent accounts is part of Meta’s broader efforts to enhance trust and safety across its family of apps, including Facebook and Instagram.
In response to the deletion of these millions of accounts, scammers and fraudsters may seek new ways to exploit users or migrate to other platforms. Users are advised to remain cautious while interacting with unknown contacts or suspicious messages to protect themselves from potential scams.
WhatsApp’s actions highlight the ongoing challenge platforms face in policing deceptive behavior and maintaining user trust in the digital sphere.
Sources Analysis:
WhatsApp/Meta Platforms Inc. – Meta, as the owner of WhatsApp, has a vested interest in maintaining the platform’s reputation and user trust. The company’s statements should be viewed in light of this interest.
Fact Check:
– WhatsApp deleted over 6.8 million accounts linked to scams – Verified fact. Meta officially announced the deletion of these accounts.
– The accounts were involved in deceptive behavior – Verified fact. Meta stated that the accounts violated platform policies by engaging in misleading activities.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “WhatsApp deletes over 6.8m accounts linked to scams, Meta says”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.