WhatsApp Locks Out Several Indian Users for 24 Hours in Sudden Account Review Drive

Thousands of WhatsApp users in India and several other regions faced sudden account lockouts on Monday evening after the messaging app unexpectedly placed their accounts under review. Starting around 8:00 PM IST, affected users were completely blocked from accessing their chats, audio and video calls, and other essential app features without receiving any prior warning or explanation.

Upon opening the application, affected users were shown an in-app message stating that their account activity and device information were being checked to ensure compliance with WhatsApp's terms of service. The notice informed users that the review process would typically take up to 24 hours to complete, leaving them unable to send messages or make calls during the review period. Numerous frustrated users took to social media platforms to express their anger, with many emphasizing that they rely heavily on the app for daily work and business communications.

Responding to the widespread reports, a company spokesperson stated that WhatsApp continuously works to prevent platform misuse but acknowledged that automated safety filters can sometimes flag legitimate accounts by mistake. WhatsApp confirmed it is actively working to correct these automated enforcement errors and restore full access to mistakenly flagged accounts as quickly as possible.