Blocked WhatsApp accounts: MCMC and Meta to meet tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will hold a meeting with Meta tomorrow over public complaints about blocked WhatsApp accounts.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the ministry would wait for information from the Sept 28 meeting, The Star reported.

The meeting follows complaints received by MCMC about WhatsApp accounts reported to have been hacked, blocked or no longer accessible.

Cases already referred to Meta

In a statement on Sept 25, MCMC said it had referred the cases to Meta for clarification and appropriate action.

MCMC said hacked accounts and blocked accounts were separate issues. Accounts that are hacked and misused for fraud or spam may be blocked by WhatsApp for breaching the platform's terms.

The commission did not disclose the number of complaints received.

Advice to users

Users are advised to use WhatsApp's official channels to recover their accounts, not to share verification codes or security PINs, to enable two-step verification and to be wary of suspicious links and apps.

MCMC also reminded the public not to pay anyone offering account recovery services who asks for money or personal data.

Users unable to resolve their problems through WhatsApp's official channels may lodge a complaint with MCMC for referral to Meta.