WhatsApp Sues India Over New Privacy Policy

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - WhatsApp filed a lawsuit against the Indian government regarding the new internet policy in effect in the country. Moreover, the new regulation can make WhatsApp violate the protection of the privacy rights of its users.

Cited from the Reuters page, a lawsuit was sent to the New Delhi High Court to find out whether the rules would potentially violate users' privacy rights. As a side note, the regulation requires social media companies to identify triggers of disinformation when asked by the authorities.

WhatsApp thinks it cannot be done even though regulations oblige social media companies to expose those social media users who made mistakes. Because messages in WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted.

Nothing comes between you and your privacy. Messaging with a business is optional, and their chats are clearly labeled on the app. You are in control.

For more information, please read: https://t.co/55r1Qxv2Wi pic.twitter.com/HswXxRylHo

- WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) February 18, 2021

This means that WhatsApp inevitably has to break end-to-end encryption in order to comply with the new laws that apply in India. So they can find out who is the recipient and sender of chain messages or disinformation.

An Indian government official said the move was taken to prevent the spread of the message of disinformation. Including being able to track the originators of these messages circulating WhatsApp.

WhatsApp Users' Privacy

The instant messaging platform WhatsApp made it clear that users' privacy was their priority, answering questions from the Indian government regarding the app's latest privacy policy.

"We have answered the letter from the Indian government and assured them that users' privacy is still our highest priority", WhatsApp wrote.

WhatsApp updated its privacy policy, which originally had to be approved by users by February 8. The deadline was later pushed back to mid-May due to criticism from their users around the world.

In this policy, WhatsApp limitedly collects user data, which Facebook and the company group can use. The Indian government in a letter on May 18 asked WhatsApp to withdraw its privacy policy and will take legal action against them.

India currently uses the largest user of WhatsApp, currently, the application has a total worldwide user of 500 million people. WhatsApp states that it does not limit the application's functions, however, it will continue to remind users about updates.