WhatsApp users in Indonesia, Malaysia, and India report sudden account bans

Users in Indonesia, Malaysia, and India have reported sudden WhatsApp account bans and ‘account in review’ notifications since early August 2026. While Meta has attributed these incidents to system errors during abuse sweeps, cybersecurity experts suggest a more complex cause involving account hijacking.

Security analysts, including Alfons Tanujaya from Vaksincom, indicate that malicious actors may be seizing accounts to facilitate illegal online gambling promotions. Common methods of intrusion include account renting for spam, cloning, and the theft of WhatsApp Web sessions.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital has emphasized that while enforcement against illegal gambling must continue, legitimate users should not suffer collateral damage. Authorities are maintaining communication with platform operators to ensure security measures target illicit actors rather than everyday citizens. Experts recommend that users tighten privacy settings, specifically restricting who can add them to group chats, to prevent automated scripts from co-opting their numbers.