Scammers are always finding new ways to deceive people online, but we are not standing still. We are constantly improving our tools and technologies to combat these scams and protect our users. In a recent announcement, we shared our latest investments in advanced AI, tools to help users identify and avoid scammers, and partnerships with law enforcement and industry peers to crack down on fraudulent activities.
Our team has developed new tools to detect and remove malicious accounts across our platforms. However, scammers are becoming more clever in avoiding detection and may not immediately engage in malicious activities. To address this, we have introduced alerts to warn users of suspicious activities before they fall victim to scams.
For instance, on WhatsApp, scammers may try to trick users into linking their accounts to their devices. To counter this, WhatsApp will now alert users when behavioral signals indicate a suspicious linking request. This will give users the opportunity to pause and reconsider before proceeding. Similar alerts have been introduced on Facebook to warn users of suspicious friend requests.
We are also expanding advanced scam detection on Messenger to more countries. This feature will alert users when a chat with a new contact shows patterns of common scams, allowing them to take necessary actions to protect themselves.
In addition to these measures, we are using AI technology to combat celebrity and brand impersonation. AI helps us analyze multiple signals, such as text, images, and context, to identify sophisticated scam patterns faster and on a larger scale. This technology is particularly effective in detecting impersonation of celebrities, public figures, and brands, as well as deceptive links and domain impersonation.
To make our platforms safer for both users and businesses, we are expanding advertiser verification. Verified advertisers will drive 90% of our ad revenue by the end of 2026, up from 70% currently. This verification process promotes transparency and helps prevent misrepresentation of advertiser identity, thereby protecting users from potential scams.
We are also actively taking action against scammers by working with industry peers and law enforcement agencies worldwide. Last year, we removed over 159 million scam ads and took down 92% of them before they were reported. In India alone, we banned over 12.1 million pieces of ad content for violating our policies against fraud and scams.
Recently, we collaborated with global law enforcement agencies to disable over 150,000 accounts associated with scam center networks in Southeast Asia. This operation targeted sophisticated criminal syndicates engaged in various scams, including impersonation of law enforcement officials and fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
In addition to technological measures, we are also focused on raising awareness about online safety. Our anti-scam campaign, “Scam se Bacho,” in partnership with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), aims to educate people on identifying and avoiding online scams.
Our commitment to protecting users from scams is unwavering. We will continue to invest in new technologies, share updates on our enforcement efforts, and collaborate with partners to ensure a safer online experience for everyone using our platforms.
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