WhatsApp is under fire because its new privacy policy has been instituted on Facebook or the die. The severe criticism of this move not only forced it to delay the implementation period, but also an exodus that caused users to flock to Telegram and Signal. Another blow to the messaging service owned by Facebook is a letter written by an Indian government ministry asking WhatsApp to withdraw the new privacy policy completely.
As a refresher, the new policy was announced a few weeks ago and it states that certain data will be shared with Facebook. In addition, the app has also introduced an extended deadline that requires users to agree to the new terms of service by February 8 if they plan to continue using the app.
In response, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) wrote to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart to request the withdrawal of proposed changes to users’ privacy policies in the country. The letter contains several serious points of contact, one of which questions the difference in the European Union where privacy policy remains unchanged.
The government is seeking clarity on what kind of data WhatsApp collects and is concerned about how sharing data with Facebook could pose security risks and vulnerabilities to users.
With over 400 million users, India represents the largest market for WhatsApp. This, coupled with the fact that it plays a strategic role in the $ 5.7 billion investment that Facebook is making in India’s largest telecommunications industry, could mean that this development could have significant implications for the company’s plans. We will update this story as it unfolds.
