HC refuses to stay CCI notice to FB, WhatsApp

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 23

The Delhi High Court has refused to stay a notice issued by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) asking Facebook and WhatsApp to furnish certain information with regard to its probe into the instant messaging app’s new privacy policy.

The high court said an application seeking stay of further steps in the investigation already stands filed in which notice was issued to the Director General of the CCI in which no interim relief was given by the division bench on May 6 and is listed for consideration on July 9.

“We also find that there is substantial overlap, in fact near identity, as between the prayers made in… (earlier application) and those made in the present application. For the foregoing reason, we do not consider it appropriate to stay the operation of impugned notice dated June 8, at this stage,” a Bench led by Justice Anup J Bhambhani said.

Passed on June 21, the high court’s order was made available on Wednesday.

Facebook and WhatsApp have filed challenged a single judge order dismissing their pleas against the probe ordered by the CCI into WhatsApp’s new privacy policy.