Privacy norms: Notice to WhatsApp, government

New Delhi, February 15

The Supreme Court today issued notices to WhatsApp and the Centre on a plea challenging their new privacy policy that allegedly provides for lower standards of privacy for Indian users compared to their European counterparts.

You may be 2 or 3 trillion (dollar) companies, but people value their privacy more than money. People have apprehension they will lose their privacy. — SC Bench

Asking the government and WhatsApp to respond in four weeks, a Bench headed by CJI SA Bobde noted that people’s privacy must be protected in view of the allegation that users’ data was being shared with other firms. People have grave apprehension that they will lose their privacy and it is our duty to protect them, the court noted.

Dealing with an appeal arising out of a Delhi High Court verdict, the top court had in 2017 referred WhatsApp’s privacy policy matter to a Constitution Bench as it related to the larger issue of privacy and right to personal liberty. On behalf of the petitioner in the present case, senior advocate Shyam Divan pointed out that WhatsApp was differentiating between Indian and European users in terms of privacy standards. He alleged that huge metadata was being shared for profit.

WhatsApp has denied differential treatment between European and Indian users in its new policy. — TNS