WhatsApp will sue you: how to avoid violating terms of use

Individual or business, whomsoever breaks the WhatsApp terms of use, it will take strong legal action against people or company. WhatsApp, the most popular messaging platform used by billions of people across the globe, has promised to offer the best of its services and to keep its promise it will take legal action against violators.

Earlier we talked that WhatsApp can ban your account for using GB WhatsApp, now it’s becoming stricter against any violator. As in the past couple of months, has faced a lot of flak for being unable to contain fake or misleading bulk messages on its platform.

Till the time, The company relied on its ban system, but that’s not enough, now, the company plans to go one step ahead and sue the users who have such behaviour, even if they found ‘off platform-evidence of abuse’.

In the FAQ section, it wrote: ‘WhatsApp is committed to using the resources at its disposal – including legal action – to prevent abuse that violates our terms of service, such as automated or bulk messaging, or non-personal use. ‘This is why in addition to technological enforcement, we also take legal action against individuals or companies that we link to on-platform evidence of such abuse. WhatsApp reserves its right to continue taking legal action in such circumstances.’

"Beginning on December 7, 2019, WhatsApp will take legal action against those we determine are engaged in or assisting others in abuse that violates our Terms of Service, such as automated or bulk messaging, or non-personal use, even if that determination is based on information solely available to us off our platform," WhatsApp wrote in its FAQ page titled Unauthorised Usage of WhatsApp.

What you should Avoid?

To keep your account safe and not to face any legal action, you might want to avoid –

# Using bots to send spam, automated, bulk messaging or non-personal use

# Engaged in or assisting others in abuse beyond December 7, 2019, or before that date

They have not mentioned about using modded apps such as GB WhatsApp and WhatsApp Plus in this particular FAQ response. But in the other section “About Temporarily Banned Accounts” they have talked about both apps. So, it’s advisable to avoid using mod apps.

How to Use WhatsApp Responsibly?

WhatsApp also shared details about using the platform responsibly in another section that includes…

Best Practices for Use of WhatsApp

Private communication by design: Users should manage their own accounts for one-on-one chats and small group conversations.

Gain people's permission: Messages should only be sent to people who have contacted you first or have requested you contact them via WhatsApp. It's best to give people your phone number so they can message you first. If people provide their phone number, message them in ways they would expect. For example, explain who you are, and how you got their phone number.

Respect people's choices: If a user asks you to stop messaging them, you should remove the user from your address book and refrain from contacting them again. You should get permission from people before you add them to a group. If you add someone to a group and they remove themselves, please honor that decision.

Use Group controls: We've created an “Admin Only” messaging setting for groups — so if you create a group, you can decide who can send messages within it. Using this feature can help cut down unwanted messages in groups.

Think twice before forwarding: We have affixed a label to all forwarded messages to encourage people to think before sharing.

Practices to Avoid

Unwanted, automated, or bulk messages: Don't try to bulk message, auto-message or auto-dial using WhatsApp. WhatsApp uses both machine learning technology and reports from users to detect and ban accounts sending unwanted messages. This includes the systematic contacting of users in ways they may not want. Also, don't create accounts or groups in unauthorized or automated ways, or use modified versions of WhatsApp.

Use contact lists that are not yours: Never share phone numbers without people's consent or use data obtained from illicit sources (by buying lists of phone numbers for example) to message users on WhatsApp or add them to groups.

Over-use broadcast lists: Messages sent using a broadcast list will only be received when users have added your phone number to their contact list. That said, the frequent use of broadcast messages may lead people to report your messages. We block accounts that are reported multiple times.

Violate our Terms of Service: As a reminder, the Terms of Service prohibit, amongst other things, publishing falsehoods and engaging in illegal, threatening, intimidating, hateful, and racially or ethnically offensive behaviour. The Terms of Service define your contractual relationship with WhatsApp, and the Terms of Service take precedence to the extent there is any conflict with this document.