Cybercrime continues to challenge online safety across the globe. In this latest round-up, major platforms like WhatsApp and Uber reveal staggering statistics and new safety initiatives. Meta cracks down on millions of scam accounts, while Uber faces scrutiny for an alarming number of sexual misconduct reports. These updates underscore ongoing battles in tech to protect users and combat digital threats.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Meta Removes 6.8 Million WhatsApp Scam Accounts
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, announced it removed 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scams over the first half of 2025. These accounts operated from sophisticated scam centers targeting people worldwide. Meta identifies many of these scams as originating from organized crime. They often involve forced labor networks.
The scams frequently shift platforms to evade detection. A scam campaign may start via text or dating apps and then move to social media or payment platforms. Meta specifically called out attempts that used its platforms—including Facebook and Instagram—as well as TikTok and Telegram. These scams lure users with fake offers, including paying for likes, pyramid schemes, and cryptocurrency scams. The company disrupted one major scam campaign linked to a criminal center in Cambodia with support from OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT.
Meta also launches new safety features on WhatsApp. These include alerts when a stranger adds a user to a group. There are also warnings encouraging users to pause before replying to suspicious messages. These proactive steps address the rise of sophisticated scams flooding digital communication channels daily.
Uber Logs Over 400,000 Sexual Assault and Misconduct Reports
Court documents obtained by The New York Times reveal Uber received 400,181 reports of sexual assault and misconduct between 2017 and 2022. However, Uber’s biennial safety reports disclose just 12,522 incidents during that period. Uber’s US safety head, Hannah Niles, clarified many reports cover less severe incidents. These include inappropriate comments or flirting, not just physical assault.
Despite these figures, the number remains alarming given the sheer volume of Uber trips. There were over 6.3 billion completed in the US alone between 2017 and 2022. Niles stressed there is no acceptable level of sexual assault on the platform. Uber has settled many cases privately but faces a class-action lawsuit that will go to trial in September 2025.
In response, Uber tests new safety features. These include the “women preferences” option in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit. This feature matches female riders with female drivers. Although promising, the overall impact on safety remains uncertain. Uber’s transparency contrasts with Lyft, which reported 2,651 serious sexual assault instances from 2020 to 2022. This includes 365 cases of non-consensual penetration.
Microsoft Azure Powers Israeli Surveillance on Palestinians
Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform supports extensive data collection by Israel’s military intelligence unit, Unit 8200. It stores millions of Palestinian phone call records from Gaza and the West Bank. This scale is unmatched by many global intelligence operations. The partnership emerged as Israeli forces required robust cloud infrastructure to process their growing surveillance data.
Internal documents show Microsoft enhanced security features to safeguard this sensitive data. The data is stored across European servers in Ireland and the Netherlands. While Microsoft publicly denies direct involvement in military operations, investigative reports suggest Azure’s cloud service directly aids targeting decisions in conflict zones. This situation raises difficult questions about corporate responsibility, the ethical use of cloud technology, and privacy in war.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Innovators continue furthering proactive security tools and transparency initiatives. Meta’s collaboration with OpenAI to disrupt scams introduces AI’s duality. It acts as a tool for both cybercriminals and defenders. Uber’s upcoming trial and progressive safety features provide a benchmark for ride-sharing platforms globally.
Policymakers, tech firms, and users share the responsibility to adapt to emerging threats’ wakes. Stay informed, cautious, and engaged with platform safety tools. Cybercrime battles are not going away and protecting users is the name of the game. Saving users and their data maintains trust.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech