CCI imposes ₹213 crore penalty on Meta over 2021 WhatsApp private policy update

New Delhi: India’s competition watchdog on Monday imposed a ₹213-crore penalty on Meta for abusing its dominant position as the 2021 privacy policy update of its messaging app WhatsApp undermined users’ ability to opt out of getting their data shared with the group’s social media platform Facebook.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered WhatsApp not to share user data collected on its platform with other Meta companies or products for advertising purposes for five years, according to a statement by the regulator. The CCI considers Meta a dominant player in internet-based messaging through WhatsApp and also in online display advertising.