WhatsApp Users in Israel Face Mass Account Blocks, Urged to Back Up Data Immediately

In recent days, hundreds of WhatsApp users in Israel have experienced sudden and unexplained account blocks, prompting the Israel Internet Association to urge the public to back up all important data stored on the app. The wave of account suspensions began last week, with many users reporting loss of access to chats, groups, and personal or business information. Despite submitting appeals through the app, affected users remain locked out of their accounts.

The Israel Internet Association has contacted Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, demanding urgent assistance and clarification regarding the cause of these blocks. So far, Meta has not provided a detailed explanation, though it acknowledged the issue and stated it is working to resolve it quickly. The association warned that this problem might expand and emphasized that only Meta can restore blocked accounts.

Users are cautioned against paying third parties who claim they can unblock accounts, as no external entity has the ability to do so. The association strongly recommends backing up photos, documents, messages, and other vital information immediately and preparing alternative communication methods in case of further blocks. They also called on the Israeli government to demand full transparency and prompt solutions from Meta, highlighting the risks of overreliance on a single communication platform.

Meta responded that it continuously works to prevent abuse on its platform by blocking accounts that violate policies but admitted mistakes can occur and pledged to fix such errors swiftly to restore user access.