WhatsApp’s differential treatment of Indian users a cause for concern: Centre says in Delhi HC
The HinduThe Centre on Monday told the Delhi High Court that WhatsApp’s differential treatment of Indian users against their European users when it came to its privacy policy was a “cause for concern to the government”. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Central government, said, “the privacy policy offered by WhatsApp to its European users, specifically prohibition of any information shared with Facebook, while this provision is not present in the privacy policy offered to Indian citizens who form a very substantial part of WhatsApp user base”. Though the issue “is between two private parties”, Mr. Sharma said, “the scope and expanse of WhatsApp makes it a germane ground that reasonable and cogent policies are put in place which is being done by the Personal Data Protection Bill”. Mr. Lal’s plea sought direction to issue guidelines to ensure such change in privacy policy by WhatsApp were carried out strictly in accordance with the right guaranteed in the Constitution.