What Truecaller coming to WhatsApp means for users
The feature will help WhatsApp users spot potential spam calls over the internet. The feature will be available for both video and audio calls. So far Truecaller identified only the calls that users received via their telecom service provider and not those via the internet through third-party apps like WhatsApp and Signal. Fake calls, both video and audio, is one of the biggest problems faced by WhatsApp users.
Truecaller availability on WhatsApp
Truecaller Chief Executive Alan Mamedi said that the feature, currently in beta phase, will be rolled out to users globally later this month (May). He, however, did not give any timeline.
Why Truecaller coming to WhatsApp is ‘good news’ for users
One of the biggest problems facing WhatsApp is scam calls, both video and audio. Telemarketers and hackers often use WhatsApp to dupe gullible users on the platform. Such calls have been on the rise in countries globally, including India. In the last one month, there has been a sudden spurt in spam/fraud calls received via international numbers. According to a 2021 report by Truecaller, users in India get about 17 spam calls per month on an average. “Over the last two weeks, we have seen a spike in user reports from India about spam calls over WhatsApp,” Mamedi said, noting that telemarketers switching to internet calling was fairly new to the market.
Earlier this year, India’s telecom regulator directed carriers like Reliance Jio, Vodafone and Airtel to start blocking telemarketing calls over their networks using artificial intelligence filters.
India biggest market for WhatsApp and Truecaller
WhatsApp is the most used messaging platform in India. The company says that it uses spam detection technology to spot and take action on accounts engaging in abnormal behavior and lets users block and report problematic accounts. For Truecaller as well, India is its biggest market. The company boasts of 250 million users. It has 350 million users globally and earns its revenue from advertising, subscription services, and verified listings from businesses.
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