Announced in February, WhatsApp’s new privacy policy had triggered a massive row with the government amid widespread concerns of data-sharing with parent company Facebook, and potential violation of users’ rights.
As the standoff between social media platforms and the Centre continues, messaging platform WhatsApp told the Delhi High Court on Friday that its new privacy policy was put on hold “voluntarily” till the Personal Data Protection Bill comes into force.
It also said that it would not force users to accept its controversial new privacy policy or limit functionality for those who opted not to accept those terms.
WhatsApp tells Delhi HC it will not limit functionality for users not opting for new privacy policy
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 9, 2021
“Government has asked to shut down the policy. We have said we will not enforce it till Data Protection Bill comes out. That is open-ended because we don’t know when the Bill is going to come out … We have said we will not do this for a while. Suppose the Bill allows me to do it, we will have completely different ramifications,” senior advocate Harish Salve made the submission on behalf of WhatsApp.
Salve also told the Court that the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has communicated to the messaging platform that its privacy policy is against the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information), Rules 2011, Bar&Bench reported.
Announced in February, WhatsApp’s new privacy policy had triggered a massive row with the government amid widespread concerns of data-sharing with parent company Facebook, and potential violation of users’ rights.
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The policy was to come into effect from February end but then put on hold till May 15, due to users backlash.
The Delhi High Court was hearing a plea by the instant messaging platform and its owner, Facebook, challenging a Competition Commission of India (CCI), inquiry into the policy. The CCI had issued notices to both companies last month, asking for more information about the policy.
In the previous hearing on June 23, the High Court refused to stay the CCI notice to WhatsApp.
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