SC rejects Meta’s plea, upholds HC judgement of CCI probe into WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy – Times of India

Dismissing Facebook-parent Meta‘s plea challenging a Delhi High Court judgement allowing probe ordered by Competition Commission of India (CCI), the Supreme Court said that the chief national competition regulator is an independent authority “to consider any violation of the provisions of the Competition Act of 2002,” which aims to prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition in India.
In layman’s terms, the CCI probe to look into WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy pertaining to issues of an alleged infringement of user privacy will continue. The anti-trust regulator is investigating WhatsApp’s anti-competitive sharing of users’ data with Facebook and examining whether there is an abuse of dominance by WhatsApp privacy policy, which was updated in 2021.

What is WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy
WhatsApp updated its privacy policy in 2021, according to which users must agree that the instant messaging app can share data from business conversations with Facebook. WhatsApp says that if users do not agree to the new policy, their account will lose access to various features.
It was clarified that users won’t have access to their WhatsApp chat list. They will only be able to perform basic tasks such as answer or make incoming voice or video calls as well as read or reply to messages when a WhatsApp notification hits your phone. WhatsApp also said that if users don’t accept the policy, their accounts will not be deleted. WhatsApp will send “persistent reminders” to users about accepting the new policy. It was also cleared that even when users accept WhatsApp’s new policy, their chat will remain end-to-end encrypted. No third-party or Facebook can see users’ private chats or calls.
Earlier this year, WhatsApp told Delhi High Court that it is not forcing users into accepting the policy and they can stop using the app. A lot of users have already shifted to other instant messaging apps, including Telegram and Signal.