This week’s WhatsApp messaging platform revealed plans to take legal action against individuals and companies exploiting the bulk message system.
The Terms of Service of the Facebook-owned platform already prohibits automated or bulk messaging, as WhatsApp states that it has not been designed for such use but provides WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Business API to support customer interactions.
The platform provided information in a white paper (PDF) released at the beginning of the year on its ability to identify and block accounts that helps keep users safe from misuse.
The information on the WhatsApp platform has already enabled Facebook to find and stop millions of abusive accounts from working on the service, says the company.
But, while Facebook is trying to improve WhatsApp’s machine learning systems, there are businesses trying to evade them.
According to WhatsApp, stopping abuse is a challenge requiring a holistic approach, but the platform is committed against those who violate its Terms, such as automated, mass-mail, or non-personal use, with the necessary resources.
The company will also take legal action against individuals or companies linked to online evidence of such abuse.
From 7 December 2019 onwards, WhatsApp will also bring action against those who find themselves “committed to or assisted by the abuse of our terms of service, such as automated or bulk communication, or non-personal use, even if this determination is based exclusively on information available to us on our platformen,” says WhatsApp. WhatsApp.
Such information from outside the platform would cover public claims on companies ‘ ability to leverage WhatsApp in ways that violate the company’s policies.
“It is told that we will take action against companies that we have off-site evidence of abuse only if such abuse persists past December 7, 2019 or are connected with on-site proof of abuse before that date,” says WhatsApp.
The platform will continue to use its right to enforce laws through software, including blocking accounts based on the classification of machine learning.
Nonetheless, the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business API will continue to offer businesses the ability to communicate with their clients.
