Govt mulls mandatory phone number verification for WhatsApp accounts

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil announced at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur that the Malaysian government is contemplating mandating WhatsApp to verify phone numbers associated with user accounts. This move aims to prevent scam calls and the impersonation of government officials. Currently, WhatsApp does not require phone number verification for its accounts.

The proposal emerged from discussions at a recent International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meeting, where representatives from various countries expressed concerns about the platform being used for scam calls. Fahmi Fadzil mentioned that the government is exploring additional measures to combat scams following the adaptation of fraudsters' methods in response to technical changes introduced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to curb caller ID spoofing.

While these changes have successfully restricted spoofed calls, scammers have since resorted to alternative methods. During the press conference, Fahmi Fadzil addressed questions about the government's response to the arrest of 61 individuals accused of impersonating MCMC officers in scams. He emphasized that individuals found guilty of breaking the law would be brought to court.