Government & Policy

India’s Supreme Court To WhatsApp: ‘You Cannot Play With The Right To Privacy’

Lloyd

India’s Supreme Court To WhatsApp: ‘You Cannot Play With The Right To Privacy’

WhatsApp Privacy India: Supreme Court Draws Line in Sand India's Supreme Court has issued a landmark warning to WhatsApp and parent company Meta: user privacy is non-negotiable. During Tuesday's hearing, Chief Justice Surya Kant declared the court would not permit Meta to "play with the right to privacy," immediately freezing any data sharing while WhatsApp appeals a penalty over its controversial 2021 privacy policy. With over 500 million Indian users—nearly a quarter of WhatsApp's global base—the ruling challenges how tech giants monetize behavioral data in markets where their platforms function as essential utilities. Credit: Zawrzel / NurPhoto / Getty Images A Monopoly Questioning Consent The court's sharpest criticism centered on meaningful consent. Justice Kant framed WhatsApp not merely as a popular app but as a de facto monopoly where refusal isn't realistic. He posed a pointed hypothetical: how can "a poor woman selling fruits on the street"…

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