{
  "id": 20144242,
  "title": "WhatsApp phone number verification under study to curb scams",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/whatsapp-phone-number-verification-under-study-to-curb-scams",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T08:01:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1578364/whatsapp-phone-number-verification-under-study-curb-scams"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications Ministry is studying a proposal for WhatsApp to verify phone numbers linked to user accounts to curb scams and prevent misuse of the platform.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Fahmi wants stronger WhatsApp verification after scammers impersonate MCMC officers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/fahmi-wants-stronger-whatsapp-verification-after-scammers-impersonate",
        "published": "2026-11-15T06:41:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Govt mulls mandatory phone number verification for WhatsApp accounts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/govt-mulls-mandatory-phone-number-verification-for-whatsapp-accounts",
        "published": "2026-11-15T07:19:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Scams: Fahmi wants WhatsApp to strengthen phone number verification",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/scams-fahmi-wants-whatsapp-to-strengthen-phone-number-verification",
        "published": "2026-11-15T07:23:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}