The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is preparing to take action against WhatsApp for alleged violations of competition rules.
The controversy began when WhatsApp announced changes to its privacy policy in 2021.
This amendment allowed the messaging app to share certain user data with its parent company, Meta.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is preparing to take action against WhatsApp for alleged violations of competition rules linked to its controversial 2021 privacy policy update. This amendment, which allowed the messaging app to share certain user data with its parent company, Meta (formerly Facebook), sparked concerns among regulators worldwide over data privacy and fair competition.
Background of the issue
The controversy began when WhatsApp announced changes to its privacy policy in 2021, permitting the platform to share specific user information with Meta. This move raised alarms, with many expressing concerns over how the policy affected user privacy. In India, the CCI launched an investigation into the policy change to determine whether WhatsApp’s actions had violated local competition laws.
Findings of the CCI investigation
According to a report by Livemint, the CCI’s director general (DG) of inquiry found that both WhatsApp and Meta had misused their dominant positions in the market, breaching Indian competition regulations. The DG’s report concluded that WhatsApp’s data-sharing agreement gave Meta and its subsidiaries an unfair advantage over competitors. By accessing business transaction information shared on WhatsApp, Meta was allegedly able to outpace other digital service providers.
The CCI has now drafted an order based on the DG’s findings. If the draft order is approved, WhatsApp and Meta could face penalties for their alleged misconduct.
Also read: Using Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses? Here’s why you should worry about your privacy
WhatsApp’s response
In response to the charges, a WhatsApp spokesperson emphasised that the CCI proceedings are still underway, and the company cannot comment on the details of the case. The spokesperson further clarified that users had been given the option to accept or decline the privacy policy changes. Those who chose not to accept the update could continue using the app without any restrictions or risk of account deletion.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
