WhatsApp launches automatic call-silencing feature to combat spam calls

WhatsApp introduced a new feature called "silence unknown callers," which allows users to automatically screen out unwanted calls from unknown numbers, providing an additional layer of protection for WhatsApp users.

The global rollout of the feature took place on Tuesday, with WhatsApp stating in a news release that it will "automatically screen out spam, scams, and calls from unknown people".

A 2021 Truecaller report revealed that WhatsApp users in India were particularly affected, receiving an average of about 17 spam calls per month.

In response to the rising complaints about spam calls, the new feature aims to give users more control over their incoming calls. Instead of ringing on WhatsApp, unknown calls will be redirected to the user's call list, where missed calls can still be viewed in case they were mistakenly identified as spam.

Alongside the Silence Unknown Callers feature, WhatsApp also launched Privacy Checkup, which guides users through steps to enhance the security of their messages, calls and personal information. The move comes in light of reports that more than 500 million users worldwide have experienced a surge in spam calls from international numbers, particularly from countries with area codes +251 (Ethiopia), +60 (Malaysia), +62 (Indonesia), +254 (Kenya), and +84 (Vietnam) in recent months.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the top five scams reported in 2022 involved online shopping scams, fraudulent business and job opportunities, investment scams, and fake prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries. The FTC received 2.4 million fraud reports last year, with Americans losing approximately $8.8 billion, a 30 per cent increase from 2021.