46% WhatsApp users facing barrage of unsolicited audio, video calls; most from international numbers: Survey
A survey has revealed shocking statistics about what WhatsApp users are going through with as many as 46% reporting that they are facing a barrage of unsolicited audio and video calls mostly from international numbers. The survey was conducted by community social media platform LocalCircles. Not just that, as many as 83% of respondents state that this onslaught is fairly recent - they have been getting such calls more frequently since the last 30 days. Also, 59% of respondents have said that they are getting such calls primarily from international numbers. Many are being pestered by missed calls too.
According to LocalCircles, "There is a very real possibility of these calls originating from India with international numbers being used to mask the Indian number."
The onslaught has been so bad that over the last few weeks, WhatsApp users in India have taken to social media to report this onslaught.
These calls are being made on the pretext of offering easy-to-do jobs like clicking likes on YouTube videos. The country codes of these calls appear to be originating from countries like Ethiopia, Malaysia, Kenya, Vietnam. However, the country code of these calls does not necessarily mean that the calls are originating from there.
Union Minister of state, MEITY, Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that the IT ministry will be sending a notice to WhatsApp on the issue of spam calls from unknown international numbers as the onus of ensuring the safety of the users lies with the digital platform, PTI reported.
The minister said the government is also examining how these WhatsApp numbers are being identified and accessed.
WhatsApp said, “...we are fully aligned with the government's goal of keeping users safe....” The company also said that it
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