WhatsApp’s Privacy Policy Challenged: In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India is scrutinizing WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy. The policy, which mandates data sharing with parent company Meta, is being challenged for infringing on user privacy rights. On March 16, WhatsApp must comply with a court order to give Indian users more control over their data.
WhatsApp, India’s most popular messaging app with 853 million users, faces criticism for its ‘take it or leave it’ policy. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has labeled this approach as leaving users without real choice, prompting a legal battle since March 2021.
In November 2024, Meta was fined $25 million for abusing its dominant position, with the CCI imposing a five-year ban on data sharing with Meta entities. However, this ban was stayed by a tribunal. The Supreme Court is now hearing the appeal against this penalty, with concerns over personal data being used for targeted advertising.
WhatsApp has assured the court that personal messages remain encrypted and that it will implement measures for user consent on data sharing. It plans to align with India’s new digital data protection law, which is also under Supreme Court review for potential rights violations.
As the case continues, the outcome could set a precedent for digital regulations in India, affecting not only WhatsApp but other tech giants operating in the region.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, March 1st, 2026
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