WhatsApp outreach: consent, restrictions and safeguards
What WhatsApp's rules require, which safeguards BaTimo enforces, what you must still do yourself, and why the risk cannot be removed.
Unsolicited WhatsApp messages can get a number restricted or banned and can break the law in your country. This page summarizes the platform rules, what BaTimo enforces for you, and what remains your responsibility. It is not legal advice.
What the platform rules say
From WhatsApp's own documents (check them for the latest wording):
- Consent first. The WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy says businesses may contact people only after receiving opt-in permission, and recommends separate opt-ins for different message categories.
- No spam or surprises. The policy says not to "confuse, deceive, defraud, mislead, spam, or surprise people with your communications".
- Honor opt-outs. Businesses must respect requests to block, stop or opt out, and should give clear opt-out instructions.
- Official API. Business-initiated messages on the official API must use approved message templates.
- Bulk and automated messaging. The WhatsApp Terms of Service list "bulk messaging, auto-messaging, auto-dialing, and the like" among impermissible communications and restrict unauthorized automated use.
The risk is real and cannot be removed
Messages your AI sends through BaTimo use your WhatsApp (QR code) channel, which links your WhatsApp account the same way WhatsApp Web does. That is not the official WhatsApp Business API. BaTimo's limits make misuse harder and reduce volume, but they cannot eliminate the risk that WhatsApp restricts or bans the connected number, particularly if recipients block or report you. Use a number whose loss you can accept, and keep volume low.
Safeguards BaTimo enforces
| Safeguard | How it works |
|---|---|
| Non-promotional purposes only | Every request needs a purpose from a fixed list (reminder, requested follow-up, service notification, order update). There is no marketing purpose. |
| Consent required | Each recipient must be verified (they messaged you in the last 90 days, or have a recent booking) or covered by your written consent declaration, stored for audit. |
| Opt-out | An opt-out line is added to every message. A STOP reply is recorded immediately, confirmed, and blocks all future outreach to that number. START reverses it. |
| No repeat contact | Not the same number within 7 days, and at most 3 times in 30 days. Duplicates are rejected. |
| Small batches | At most 25 recipients per campaign; 50 per day, 150 per week and 5 campaigns per day per company. |
| Conservative pacing | At least 4 minutes between recipients; at most 15 per hour and 50 per day per channel; requests cannot loosen this. |
| Sensible hours | 08:00 to 21:00 in the company timezone, up to 30 days ahead. |
| Abuse limits | Send and schedule requests are limited per company (10 per hour). |
| Re-check at send time | Access, opt-out, repeat-contact and company limits are checked again right before each message. |
| Automatic safety stops | The channel halts after repeated failures, a high share of numbers not on WhatsApp, or the WhatsApp session ending. Resuming needs you to confirm the number was checked. |
| No blind resends | If a send's result is uncertain, BaTimo does not retry automatically. |
| Clear statuses | Each recipient shows Queued, Sent, Failed, Skipped, Cancelled or Uncertain, with a reason. |
| Audit trail | Every message, purpose and consent basis is recorded. |
| Pause and cancel | Any campaign can be paused or cancelled at any time. |
None of these safeguards is designed to evade WhatsApp's detection. They exist to keep contact limited, wanted and easy to stop.
What you must still do
- Have real consent and keep proof (date, source, wording). BaTimo cannot verify a declaration.
- Keep it non-promotional. BaTimo cannot judge your message content.
- Identify yourself in the message and say why you are writing.
- Honor opt-outs everywhere, including in your other tools. BaTimo records STOP replies it receives; you must also honor requests made another way.
- Follow local law (consent rules for messaging, data protection).
- Review every batch before your AI sends it.
- Watch the results: many failures or blocks mean you should stop and review your list.
Instruct your AI
Include these rules in your AI's standing instructions (see Campaign tutorials).
Troubleshooting
- Many failures or the channel halted: review the list and consent, check the number in WhatsApp, and wait before resuming.
- Number restricted by WhatsApp: contact WhatsApp support from the app, reduce volume, and review your consent process before reconnecting.
Limitations
- Safeguards reduce risk; they do not guarantee WhatsApp will not restrict the number.
- BaTimo does not hold a consent register beyond the declaration stored per message and recorded opt-outs.
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