KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15: The Communications Ministry is studying the feasibility of requiring messaging platform WhatsApp to verify the identities and telephone numbers linked to each account to curb online scam activities.
Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the proposal was being studied following an increase in cases involving the misuse of the application by scam syndicates and was also in line with discussions among member countries of the International Telecommunication Union.
“The Communications Ministry is studying the feasibility of requiring WhatsApp to verify the telephone numbers linked to WhatsApp accounts. At present, WhatsApp does not impose any account verification requirement,” he said at a press conference on the Senior Citizens’ Safety System Pilot Project at Razak Mansion here today.
