WhatsApp gets hit with a lawsuit in Delhi that wants the Facebook-owned messaging app to stop sharing data with third parties

• The petitioner has sought an injunction against WhatsApp to prevent it from rolling out the new privacy policy in India.
• The petitioner wants the Delhi High Court to grant injunction until the Indian government passes the personal data protection bill.
• Earlier reports suggest that the Indian government is already examining WhatsApp’s new privacy policy.
• WhatsApp has come under fire from its users as well as internet activists after it announced its new privacy policy earlier this month.

WhatsApp's troubles are mounting. After widespread backlash from its users as well as privacy activists, now a petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court against WhatsApp's new privacy policy.

The petition, according to Bar & Bench, seeks direction from Delhi High Court to the Indian government to make sure that WhatsApp does not share user data with third parties.


The petitioner has sought the intervention of the Delhi High Court to ensure that the Indian government frames its guidelines to protect the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

WhatsApp recently announced that it is updating its terms of service and privacy policies from February 8, 2021. If you want to use the app after this date, you will have to agree to the new terms and privacy policies. If you do not accept these policies, you will not be able to use the app.

Indian government is already examining WhatsApp’s new privacy policy

According to a report, the Indian government has started examining the controversy surrounding WhatsApp’s new update. “We are collecting details,” said an official source. The issue is reportedly being discussed at the highest levels of the IT ministry.

One of the reasons behind this could be the different approach WhatsApp has taken with respect to privacy in the European Union, and countries like India.

“Also, the privacy update sought by WhatsApp in user agreement in European Union is seen as lenient while in India it is wide-ranging and may have terms that may potentially harm user privacy,” the official source added.

Trade body calls for WhatsApp ban in India

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.

WhatsApp has issued a clarification stating that your privacy won’t be affected if you don’t use the two optional features. However, it has mentioned that any chats with businesses will be shared with Facebook and ads will be shown based on these chats.

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