Malaysia Studies Requiring WhatsApp to Verify Phone Numbers Linked to Accounts

Malaysia's Communications Ministry is studying whether to require WhatsApp to verify the identities and telephone numbers linked to each account, minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said on November 15. The Edge Malaysia reported that the proposal follows increased misuse of the app by scam syndicates. WhatsApp is a Meta-owned messaging service used by more than 3 billion people in over 180 countries.

Fahmi's Case for Verifying WhatsApp Numbers

Fahmi said the ministry is assessing the feasibility of the requirement and that it aligns with discussions among member countries of the International Telecommunication Union. "At present, WhatsApp does not impose any account verification requirement," he said at a press conference on the Senior Citizens' Safety System Pilot Project at Razak Mansion. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud were also present.

On the recent arrest of 61 suspects by police for impersonating Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission personnel in scam cases, Fahmi said all those involved would be charged in court if found to have violated the law. He said MCMC had previously made technical changes to block spoofing calls, and that syndicates had switched to new tactics including WhatsApp and loan offers for online gambling. Fahmi said MCMC and the ministry never call the public about outstanding telephone bills or enforcement matters, as billing is handled by telecommunications companies. He advised the public to end suspicious calls and report them to the police, MCMC or the National Scam Response Centre at 997.

WhatsApp's Scale and Leadership Records

According to akta.pro company records, WhatsApp is a private Menlo Park company founded in 2009 with an estimated revenue of $1 billion-$5 billion and a valuation estimate of $25 billion+. The same records list total funding of $60.3 million across three rounds, the last a 2013-07 series B of $52 million led by Sequoia Capital. India is its largest market with 500+ million users, with some sources citing up to 850 million. Kunal Shah is listed as Global Head of WhatsApp, having been appointed in 2026-06 to succeed Will Cathcart.

Earlier Scrutiny of WhatsApp Scams

On November 10, 2026, the Supreme Court asked WhatsApp and other intermediaries to submit proposals to prevent digital arrest scams and related cybercrimes, The Economic Times reported. The bench also directed financial institutions to compensate victims and ordered law enforcement agencies to submit FIR reports. On November 13, 2026, Gadgets 360 reported that WhatsApp was developing a native location-sharing option for Status updates on Android, spotted in beta version 2.26.45.8.

Senior Citizens' Monitoring Pilot

Fahmi said the ministry is working with the Federal Territories Department and Kuala Lumpur City Hall on the Senior Citizens' Safety System Pilot Project for senior citizens living alone at Razak Mansion. The initial phase targets installation of monitoring technology in about 25 to 50 residential units, after which the government will assess its cost and effectiveness before considering expansion to other locations with similar needs.