India’s Supreme Court To WhatsApp: ‘You Cannot Play With The Right To Privacy’
WhatsApp privacy India case sees Supreme Court halt data sharing, questioning Meta's monetization of user metadata and consent practices.
Matilda
India’s Supreme Court To WhatsApp: ‘You Cannot Play With The Right To Privacy’
WhatsApp Privacy India: Supreme Court Draws Line in Sand India's Supreme Court has issued a landmark warning to WhatsApp and parent company Meta: user privacy is non-negotiable. During Tuesday's hearing, Chief Justice Surya Kant declared the court would not permit Meta to "play with the right to privacy," immediately freezing any data sharing while WhatsApp appeals a penalty over its controversial 2021 privacy policy. With over 500 million Indian users—nearly a quarter of WhatsApp's global base—the ruling challenges how tech giants monetize behavioral data in markets where their platforms function as essential utilities. Credit: Zawrzel / NurPhoto / Getty Images A Monopoly Questioning Consent The court's sharpest criticism centered on meaningful consent. Justice Kant framed WhatsApp not merely as a popular app but as a de facto monopoly where refusal isn't realistic. He posed a pointed hypothetical: how can "a poor woman selling fruits on the street"…