New Delhi: To evade police surveillance, WhatsApp calls have become the new tool for criminals, gamblers, and the prostitution industry in the city.

Interestingly, finding WhatsApp calls ‘safe,’ many police officials have also shifted to the calling feature of the app, fearing interception by other security agencies.  

Kishlay Chaudhary, a cyber security expert, said that the end-to-end encryption feature of WhatsApp was intended as a way of ensuring that messages can only be read by the sender and their intended recipient. There is technically no possibility of someone tapping into the calls or texts, not even the company itself. “Ethically, it is impossible to intercept WhatsApp calls. But recently, it has started providing IP addresses of callers that help security agencies to keep tab on suspicious activities,” said Mr Chaudhary.

“There are several other methods that include ground policing and cyber experts who help police to intercept criminals or any suspicious activities in the cyber world,” said Madhur Verma, deputy commissioner of police (Crime).

A police official deputed with the surveillance department said that criminals have turned smart and make all their calls through various calling applications to avoid any interception.

“Earlier, records of callers and receivers were easy to access by getting their call data record. However, in case of WhatsApp calls, there is no data or record of the caller or receiver or their conversation,” said a police official.

A bookie involved in digital betting racket said that all their work is done through WhatsApp. This is for safety as well because the police cannot track the communication.

On Tuesday, Delhi Police arrested a wanted gangster who had been evading them using WhatsApp.

A man, identified as Rakesh, who runs an escort agency in South Delhi, said that the flesh trade industry has gone digital with agents sharing pictures of girls with their clients on apps like WhatsApp as it is safe and saves times.