A technical glitch in WhatsApp, one of the world's most popular messaging apps, has affected millions of users. Starting August 3, many users attempting to log in encountered a warning that their accounts were under review, despite not having violated any rules.
The warning displayed to users stated that account and device activity was being checked for compliance with the terms of service, and that the review process could take about one day. Due to the unexpected warning, many users were unable to access the app.
Although it was initially assumed that accounts were restricted due to a security breach, it turned out that the issue was not related to user actions. An investigation revealed that the automated security system WhatsApp uses to detect spam and malicious activity malfunctioned and mistakenly flagged many innocent users as risky.
Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, confirmed in a statement after the incident that a technical error occurred in the automated review mechanisms. Company representatives noted that systems designed to ensure user safety can sometimes produce erroneous assessments, and announced the start of work to reactivate accounts that had been unfairly restricted.
It is reported that Meta engineers are working on a comprehensive system update to identify mistakenly blocked accounts and restore access to them. The company has stated that affected users' accounts will gradually be returned to normal status.