On April 29, 2026, the Indian government informed the Supreme Court of its proposal to block device IDs linked to digital arrest scams. This initiative, aimed at curbing fraud, marks a significant step in the country’s fight against cybercrime.
The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, is set to review a status report from the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 12. The report outlines enforcement strategies focusing on platform accountability, banking safeguards, SIM traceability, and victim compensation.
The Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC), formed in December, emphasized that victims should not bear losses due to negligence by banks or telecom providers. The court had initiated action following a case involving a 73-year-old woman defrauded of over ₹1 crore.
WhatsApp’s proposed measures include blocking devices instead of just accounts, which could hinder fraudsters who switch SIM cards frequently. The platform also plans to retain data of deleted accounts for 180 days to assist law enforcement.
Over a 12-week period, WhatsApp banned more than 9,400 accounts linked to such scams. Investigations revealed connections to organized scam centers in Southeast Asia. Measures like logo-matching and advanced warning systems are expected to reduce scams.
The Union government seeks a unified regulatory framework across platforms to standardize these measures. Concerns have been raised about the shift from regulatory to litigation-driven governance, potentially creating uneven standards across the digital landscape.
The status report also includes a proposed SOP by the RBI for temporary debit holds on suspicious accounts, aiming for swift inter-bank coordination and recovery of defrauded funds. The government urges uniform implementation to enhance anti-fraud effectiveness.
The unresolved aspect of using Section 12AA of the PMLA for cyber fraud is also highlighted, with calls for expedited examination and rule framing by the Department of Revenue.
Efforts to enhance SIM traceability through biometric verification systems are underway, though concerns about exclusion and forgery risks persist. The absence of a statutory framework for victim compensation remains a significant gap, with cybercrime losses surging to ₹22,845 crore in 2024.
The government has called for the operationalization of an adjudicatory framework under the IT Act and examination of intermediary liability in cyber fraud cases. Critics argue that these measures may bypass legislative processes, raising constitutional concerns.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, April 29, 2026
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