Govt mulls mandatory phone number verification for WhatsApp accounts

The Malaysian government is contemplating a requirement for phone number verification on WhatsApp accounts in an effort to combat scam calls and prevent the impersonation of government officials. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil disclosed that the ministry is evaluating the practicality of implementing such a requirement, as WhatsApp presently does not mandate phone number verification for its accounts.

This proposal emerged from discussions at a recent International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meeting, where concerns were raised about the platform being exploited for scam calls. Fahmi stated that the government is exploring further measures to address the issue, following the adaptation of scam tactics by fraudsters in response to technical enhancements introduced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to curb caller ID spoofing.

Despite these measures successfully reducing spoofed calls, scammers have since resorted to alternative methods. At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Fahmi responded to inquiries regarding the government's response to the arrest of 61 suspects accused of impersonating Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) officers in scams. He emphasized that those found guilty of violating the law would face legal consequences.