# Supreme Court Orders WhatsApp to Combat Digital Arrest Scams Top court mandates anti-scam proposals from intermediaries and increased accountability for financial institutions. - **Source:** [NDTV – India](https://www.ndtv.com/india) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/23f0e79b-ee62-44eb-848d-08ae16418bfc ## Judicial Directive to Intermediaries The Supreme Court of India has formally ordered WhatsApp and other digital intermediaries to submit comprehensive proposals aimed at preventing digital arrest scams. During the October 29 hearing, the bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, required these entities to share their strategies with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre for review. ## WhatsApp's Current Preventive Actions Representing WhatsApp, senior advocate Kapil Sibal confirmed that the platform has already taken action against 9,400 suspicious accounts. The company is currently developing specialized software designed to identify malicious activity and provide real-time warnings to users. A formal affidavit detailing these ongoing security measures will be submitted to the court. ## Financial Institution Accountability Mandate The court emphasized that banks must act as a protective umbrella for their customers. Judges ruled that financial institutions should be held liable for losses if investigations prove that fraud occurred due to a failure in due diligence. Banks are expected to indemnify victims for losses caused by these security lapses. ## Proposed Banking Regulatory Framework The bench suggested that the Reserve Bank of India incorporate enforceable provisions for preventive intervention. Proposed safeguards include the temporary suspension of transactions that deviate from a user's established history. Banks would be required to notify police stations automatically and conduct physical verification to confirm the genuineness of suspicious large transfers. ## Timeline for Regulatory Implementation The court is currently reviewing the proposed RBI Know Your Customer Amendment Directions for 2026. These new regulatory measures are scheduled to be officially notified by November 30. The bench expects the framework to be fully operationalized by December 31, ensuring that banks adopt these mandatory security protocols across all branches. ## Scope of National Cybercrime Impact Despite a reported 50 percent reduction in total cybercrime incidents, victims have still lost approximately 800 crore rupees throughout this year. The court highlighted this disparity to underscore the urgent need for institutional accountability. The next hearing for the case is scheduled for November 23 to evaluate further progress updates. ## Law Enforcement Coordination Requirements The Supreme Court has directed law enforcement agencies across all states and Union territories to submit detailed reports on registered FIRs related to digital arrest scams. These agencies must provide specific suggestions for the detection and prosecution of offenders. All reports will be forwarded to an inter-departmental committee for centralized coordination. ## Systemic Shift in Fraud Prevention This judicial intervention signals a major shift toward holding both tech platforms and financial institutions responsible for digital safety. By requiring banks to monitor transaction patterns and intermediaries to enhance account detection, the court aims to create a multi-layered defense system against sophisticated cybercrimes that exploit vulnerable, unsuspecting digital users. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/list-measures-to-stop-digital-arrests-cybercrimes-top-court-to-whatsapp-12309989#publisher=newsstand — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._