A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has challenged WhatsApp new privacy policy in Delhi High Court, as being violative of the citizen's Right to Privacy and threatening the National Security Of India. Right to Privacy has been declared a fundamental right by the Supreme Court.
The petition, moved by advocate Chaitanya Rohilla, states that the policy gives a 360-degree profile view into a person's online activity. "This level of insight into person's private and personal activities is done without any government oversight at present or regulatory supervision. Moreover, in the absence of a data protection authority, it leaves the users with a company's own assurances and privacy policies", the plea states.The petition also states that platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook have already been sharing the user's data with the third-party in unauthorized manner. It also says that the new privacy policy of WhatsApp has been rolled out without seeking permission from the government.
The petitioner has urged the High Court to issue an injunction order, restraining WhatsApp from enforcing the updated privacy policy, with immediate effect. He has also sought guidelines/ directions to ensure that any change in privacy policy by WhatsApp is carried out strictly in accordance with the Fundamental Rights.
Rohilla has also sought a direction to Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to lay down guidelines to ensure that WhatsApp does not share any data of users with any third party of Facebook and its companies for any purpose.
On the other hand, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has asked that the Indian Government should either restrict WhatsApp from implementing the new privacy policy or ban WhatsApp and Facebook in India.
Whereas, WhatsApp after weeks of criticism on its new privacy policy on Friday announced a delay in the introduction of a new privacy policy.
Thank you to everyone who’s reached out. We're still working to counter any confusion by communicating directly with @WhatsApp users. No one will have their account suspended or deleted on Feb 8 and we’ll be moving back our business plans until after May - https://t.co/H3DeSS0QfO
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) January 15, 2021
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