The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked WhatsApp to withdraw the recent changes in its Privacy Policy; saying, ‘unilateral changes are not fair and acceptable.’
After the WhatsApp privacy policy controversy, the company decided to delay its new changes to the privacy policy. However, the awareness is already well spread, and users installing other applications like Signal and Telegram. But those users didn’t end up uninstalling WhatsApp cause’ most of their contacts are on WhatsApp. According to the Mint report, WhatsApp CEO said they hadn’t seen a drop in Indian usage of the messenger.
After the hearing, the Indian Govt sent a letter to Will Cathcart, WhatsApp CEO. The letter reads, “India is home to the largest user base of WhatsApp globally and is one the biggest markets for its services.”
“The proposed changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens,” it written.
The ministry asked WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed changes and reconsider its information privacy, freedom of choice and data security.
“Indians should be properly respected. Any unilateral changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy would not be fair and acceptable.”
– MietY
After that, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told PTI (via Deccan Herald),
“This is an issue that my department is (working) on, and being the final authority, it will not be proper for me to make comments. But except to flag one thing very clearly. Be it WhatsApp, be it Facebook, be it any digital platform. You are free to do business in India but do it in a manner without impinging upon the rights of Indians who operate there”.
The MietY letter came out a day after the Delhi High Court said that using the messenger app by accepting its privacy policy is voluntary. One can choose to accept and use the service. Or can choose not to join the platform if they can’t agree to the terms and conditions.
“Even Google Maps captures all your data and stores it,” the court added.
“It is a private app. Don’t join it. It is a voluntary thing, don’t accept it. Use some other app,” Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva said to the petitioner.
Above all, the messenger giant should worry that the Indian government is raising concerns over its privacy policy. WhatsApp has more than 400 million users in India, losing them to rivals is not great for the company.
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