Govt tells WhatsApp to withdraw privacy policy, serves seven-day notice

The government has once again directed Facebook owned WhatsApp to take back its new Privacy Policy, which came on effect from May 15.

In a second letter sent by the ministry of electronics and IT, to WhatsApp on Tuesday, the ministry has asked WhatsApp to withdraw its Privacy Policy 2021. “The changes to the Privacy Policy and the manner of introducing these changes including in FAQ undermines “the sacrosanct values of informational privacy, data security and user choice for Indian users and harms the rights and interests of Indian citizens,” official sources told ET.

The government has given seven days time to WhatsApp to respond to his notice and if no satisfactory response is received, necessary steps in consonance with law will be taken, sources added. “The Government of India will consider various options available to it under laws in India,” they said.

WhatsApp had earlier claimed that it officially deferred its new Privacy Policy beyond 15th May, 2021. However, the Ministry has stated that deferral of the privacy policy beyond 15th May 2021 does not absolve WhatsApp from respecting “the values of informational privacy, data security and user choice for Indian users.” The Ministry has also told the Delhi High Court that Whatsapp Privacy Policy goes against India’s IT laws.

The letter has reiterated how Whatsapp discriminates against Indian users vis-à-vis users in Europe where the users have been given the choice to opt out of the policy. In India, while Whatsapp has said that it will not immediately delete the accounts of those who do not agree to its new policy terms, it will slowly stop giving access to key features with ultimately deleting the accounts after a few days.

The letter has also said that WhatsApp’s Privacy Policy is a violation of several provisions of the existing Indian laws and rules. “In fulfilment of its sovereign responsibility to protect the rights and interests of Indian citizens, the Government of India will consider various options available to it under laws in India.”