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Whatsapp is facing backlash over potential privacy violations in its biggest market, India.
On Thursday a petition was filed before Delhi High Court over the pending changes that would be made in the Facebook-owned app’s data-sharing policy, according to Techcrunch.
The petitioner, Advocate Chaitanya Rohilla, claims that Whatsapp requires India’s 450 million users to accept new terms that are essentially a violation of their fundamental rights to privacy and present a potential threat to national security.
Earlier this month Whatsapp received significant criticism after sending out details of the update that makes data-sharing with other Facebook companies compulsory. The update also stated that it would amend its location-based privacy settings, and said that even if a user doesn’t have their location services switched on, the company will use the IP address and phone number of users to determine their general location.
“It virtually gives a 360-degree profile into a person’s online activity,” lawyer Chaitanya Rohilla said of the California-based company’s new policy in the petition to the Delhi High Court, according to Reuters.
An in-app alert has been sent out by Whatsapp asking users to agree to the new terms by Feb. 8 if they want to continue using the service.
Whatsapp has issued an update on their website stating that the new privacy policy does not affect the privacy of user’s messages with their friends and family, and that messages are protected by end-to-end encryption.
Whatsapp Privacy Concerns Shared By High Profile Execs
The proposed changes have attracted a significant amount of public attention, with several high-profile startup founders and executives speaking out on the issue.
“How long we will be taken for granted by such blatant double standards? Self claimed ad claiming respect of our privacy v/s actual policy,” Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of Indian startup Paytm wrote on Twitter, reflecting on how the new changes weren’t affecting users in Europe.
The outrage over the proposed terms have prompted millions of users to explore alternative forms of communication, such as Signal and Telegram.
The petition will be heard by the Delhi High Court on Friday.
Over the years Facebook has been subject to numerous investigations regarding its use of data and privacy policies. In Dec. 2020, Facebook was part of an investigation conducted by the Federal Trade Commission into the business of social media and how it relates to consumers’ personal data.
What do you think of Whatsapp’s new privacy policy? Do you think that Facebook has a monopoly? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
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12 thoughts onWhatsapp Faces First Legal Challenge Over Privacy Issues in India
Pls add me my family and I use this app
BEEN USING IT FOR MANY YEARS.