Meta Fined India IDR 401 Billion For Distribution Of WhatsApp User Data

JAKARTA The business competition supervisory agency in India has been investigating Meta related to WhatsApp's privacy policy since 2021. After being investigated, it was revealed that WhatsApp data was shared with other platforms.

Based on the findings of the India Business Competition Commission (CCI), citing from Reuters, Meta utilizes all user data on WhatsApp for advertising purposes. They share WhatsApp data with other platforms under its auspices, such as Facebook or Instagram.

This action is a violation because user data should not be used for any benefit, including for the company's interests. CCI asserts that Meta's actions are wrong and violate privacy policies.

"Division of user data collected on WhatsApp with other Meta companies... for purposes other than providing WhatsApp services should not be used as a requirement for users to access WhatsApp Services in India," CCI said.

With the disclosure of this violation, CCI imposed a fine of US$25.4 million (Rp401 billion) on November 18. Meta had to pay the fine for committing antitrust violations by utilizing WhatsApp data.

This action also violates the privacy policy of messaging applications in 2021. In addition to providing fines, CCI also ordered Meta to stop using WhatsApp data. This company should not share WhatsApp data within five years.

Meta has not yet responded to the imposition of this sanction. However, this is not the first time Mark Zuckerberg's company has been caught in an antitrust case. Recently, Meta was also considered to have committed antitrust violations in the European Union.