Tag: WhatsApp

WhatsApp users across several countries were left frustrated after a temporary outage disrupted the sharing of photos, videos, stickers and other media on the messaging platform. The problem surfaced on Monday, August 3, and continued to generate complaints into the following day, with thousands of users reporting that multimedia files would not upload or send.

For many users, the experience was confusing because WhatsApp itself appeared to be working normally. Text messages could still be sent and received, while attempts to share a photo or video simply got stuck. In several cases, the selected image appeared in the chat but remained stuck on a loading screen before eventually showing a “retry” option.

The disruption was reported by users in several countries, including India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico and other regions. Outage-tracking services recorded a sharp increase in complaints, pointing to a wider WhatsApp service disruption rather than an isolated problem affecting individual phones or internet connections.

One of the most relatable aspects of the WhatsApp outage was how users initially assumed the problem was on their end. Some switched between Wi-Fi and mobile data, restarted their phones or tried reinstalling the app, only to find that the problem remained.

One user said they had initially thought their Wi-Fi connection was poor, only to discover that WhatsApp itself was experiencing problems. Others described repeatedly trying to send photos and getting the same “retry” message.

The problem appeared particularly frustrating for users who rely on WhatsApp to share photographs, videos and documents for work, family communication and everyday conversations. For some, stickers were also affected, making even simple chats feel unusually restricted.

Reports shared online suggested that the issue was not necessarily affecting every type of media or every user in exactly the same way. Some users said older photographs could still be sent, while newer photos or screenshots failed to upload. Others reported that text messages continued to work normally even when images and videos would not go through.

The good news for users was that the disruption appeared to ease after several hours. LiveMint reported that outage reports on Downdetector were declining across different countries, suggesting that WhatsApp services were gradually returning to normal. However, at the time of reporting, Meta and WhatsApp had not publicly provided a detailed explanation for what caused the media-sharing problem.

That lack of an immediate explanation left users speculating about whether the issue was linked to WhatsApp servers, media-upload systems or another technical fault. There was no indication that users needed to change their phones, internet connections or account settings to resolve the problem.

The incident also served as a reminder of how dependent everyday communication has become on messaging platforms. WhatsApp is no longer used simply for sending text messages. Families share photographs, businesses exchange documents, students send assignments, and people use videos, voice notes, stickers and Status updates as part of routine communication.

When even one part of the service stops working, the impact can quickly become noticeable.

Alongside the media-sharing outage, WhatsApp users in India also reported another issue involving accounts being temporarily placed under review.

A WhatsApp spokesperson said the company continuously works to prevent misuse of its platform and acknowledged that its enforcement systems can sometimes make mistakes. The company said that when such errors occur, it tries to restore affected accounts as quickly as possible.

The account-review reports were separate from the media-sharing disruption and should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that the outage was caused by account restrictions.

For users still experiencing problems sending photos, videos or stickers, the safest approach is to wait and retry once WhatsApp services stabilise rather than repeatedly reinstalling the app. Uninstalling WhatsApp during an outage can create additional problems, particularly if important local data or media has not been backed up.

As WhatsApp services gradually returned to normal, outage reports began to decline across regions. The incident highlighted how heavily users rely on the platform for everyday communication, from sharing family photos and videos to exchanging work documents.

While the exact cause of the media-sharing disruption remained unclear, users were advised to retry uploads once services stabilised. WhatsApp has not indicated that users need to change their devices or internet connections to resolve the issue.

WhatsApp has blocked 9,400 accounts linked to “digital arrest” scams in India since January 2026, according to information shared by the Central government with the Supreme Court. The disclosure came during ongoing proceedings related to the growing threat of cyber fraud in the country.

Digital arrest scams have emerged as one of the most common forms of online fraud in recent months. In these cases, scammers contact victims through calls or messages while pretending to be police officers, CBI officials, customs officers or other government authorities. They often accuse people of crimes such as money laundering or illegal parcels and then threaten arrest unless money is transferred immediately.

According to the government’s status report, WhatsApp launched a focused investigation earlier this year after concerns were raised by Indian enforcement agencies. Instead of removing only accounts reported by users, the platform reportedly used internal systems to detect suspicious activity, identify linked numbers and track organised scam networks. This wider crackdown led to the blocking of 9,400 accounts.

Officials also told the court that earlier takedown requests had identified around 3,800 suspicious accounts, but only a small number were directly linked to digital arrest frauds. However, deeper investigation later revealed a much larger network operating through multiple accounts.

The Centre informed the court that several agencies are now working together to curb such crimes. Telecom companies, financial institutions, regulators and digital platforms have been asked to coordinate more closely to detect fraud quickly and prevent money transfers. Authorities are also focusing on faster blocking of suspicious SIM cards and stronger identity verification measures.

WhatsApp is said to be developing additional tools to detect misuse of police or government logos in profile photos and identify impersonation attempts more effectively.

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The Supreme Court has sharply criticized WhatsApp and Meta over their privacy policies, warning that foreign tech firms must follow Indian laws or exit the country. Chief Justice Surya Kant said: “If you can’t follow our Constitution, then leave India.”

The case relates to WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy update, which required users to share data with Meta. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined WhatsApp ₹213 crore for abusing its market dominance, and this decision was partially upheld by the NCLAT. Meta has challenged the penalty in the Supreme Court.

The court raised concerns about informed consent, noting that millions of users may not fully understand complex privacy terms. It stressed that private user data cannot be exploited commercially for targeted ads.

As an interim measure, WhatsApp has been ordered not to share user information with Meta until the case is resolved. The government, through the Ministry of Electronics and IT, has been made a party to the case to ensure compliance with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act.

The bench emphasised that fundamental privacy rights cannot be compromised for business gains, and the matter will be heard further in the coming weeks.

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Scrolling through WhatsApp, most of us expect a safe space to chat with friends and family. But in today’s world, even messaging apps can expose users to scams, spam, and cyberattacks. To address this, WhatsApp has introduced Strict Account Settings, a new feature that gives users more control over who can contact them and what content reaches their chats. The update is gradually rolling out on Android and iOS.

When enabled, the feature applies the strictest privacy settings automatically. Messages, media, and calls from unknown contacts are restricted, while suspicious links and previews are blocked. This means fewer chances of encountering scams or harmful content. While it’s optional, WhatsApp says the mode is especially useful for high-risk users such as journalists, activists, or public figures, but anyone concerned about privacy can turn it on.

To activate it, users can go to Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Strict Account Settings. WhatsApp reassures users that all chats remain end-to-end encrypted; the feature simply adds an extra layer of protection by limiting interactions with unknown contacts and potentially harmful content.

Experts believe this feature is a step in the right direction. They believe that giving people more control over their accounts helps reduce risks from cyberattacks and harassment.

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