India’s competition watchdog has taken a strong stance against WhatsApp, directing the messaging platform to stop sharing user data with other Meta-owned applications for advertising purposes. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has also slapped Meta with a hefty fine of $25.4 million (approx. Rs 214 crore) over antitrust violations related to WhatsApp’s privacy policy.
The issue stems from a privacy policy update that WhatsApp introduced in 2021, allowing the sharing of user data with Facebook and other Meta companies. This move sparked a global outcry, with concerns over user privacy and data security. In response, the CCI launched an investigation into the policy in March 2021 to determine whether it violated Indian competition laws.
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The CCI has now ruled that WhatsApp cannot make data sharing with other Meta entities a requirement for users to access the service in India. The regulator emphasised that the sharing of user data collected on WhatsApp with other Meta companies, for purposes beyond providing WhatsApp service, should not be a condition for users to continue using the app. The watchdog has issued this directive for a period of five years, reports Reuters.
“Sharing of user data collected on WhatsApp with other Meta companies… for purposes other than for providing WhatsApp service shall not be made a condition for users to access WhatsApp Service in India,” the CCI stated.
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This move is part of a broader push by Indian regulators to tighten control over the practices of major tech companies. WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta, now face mounting scrutiny as India explores new regulatory frameworks for digital platforms. The Indian government is currently reviewing a report from a panel set up by the corporate affairs ministry, which suggests introducing a new “Digital Competition Bill” to strengthen antitrust laws.
With this ruling, India has made it clear that tech giants must adhere to stricter data-sharing practices, reinforcing the country’s stance on digital privacy and competition.