Indian Government Asks WhatsApp to Backtrack on Its New Privacy Policy

Indian Government's Ministry building of Electronics and Information technology (MeitY) has asked WhatsApp to backtrack its new privacy policy, according to a new detect dated May 18.

WhatsApp'south new privacy policy has been under scrutiny ever since its announcement back in Jan. The company had to issue diverse clarifications and FAQs regarding its privacy policy, saying that private chats are still encrypted.

Fifty-fifty though group and individual chats are encrypted, and while WhatsApp says it can't see the messages you lot send, the Indian authorities has asked WhatsApp to backtrack its privacy policy and sought a response within seven days. MeitY has told Facebook, the company that owns WhatsApp, that a failure of a satisfactory response may event in steps "in consonance with the police force."

In example yous're notwithstanding unaware, WhatsApp's new privacy policy is applicable only in India. This special focus on the Indian market, which is (non then) coincidentally WhatsApp's largest active market, has raised some eyebrows. Indian It Ministry has finally given hay to the state of affairs and has asked WhatsApp to re-exercise its policy.

A source close to the matter has said that the Indian government, in its notice, has said that the firm "undermines the sacrosanct values of informational privacy, data security, and user option for Indian users and harms the rights and interests of Indian citizens."

"In fulfilment of its sovereign responsibleness to protect the rights and interests of Indian citizens, the Authorities of India will consider various options bachelor to it under laws in India. The government has given seven days' time to WhatsApp to respond to this find and if no satisfactory response is received, necessary steps in consonance with law will be taken," the source said.

Read:What's the Consequence With WhatsApp's New Privacy Policy?

The government has also said that WhatsApp treats its users in India and Europe differently. The government has said that the users would accept been given a different treatment if they belonged to Europe (since WhatsApp has to comply with Europe'southward GDPR guidelines).

"It is non simply problematic, but also irresponsible, for WhatsApp to leverage this position to impose unfair terms and conditions on Indian users, particularly those that discriminate against Indian users vis-à-vis users in Europe."

WhatsApp recently issued a statement saying it won't delete your account if you fail to accept its new privacy policy. Simply, if you don't accept the new terms, WhatsApp volition constantly remind you most accepting it, and in betwixt, brand it harder for you lot to use the messaging service. If yous fail to comply for an 'extended period,' WhatsApp won't fifty-fifty let y'all ship messages.

Have you accepted WhatsApp's new privacy policy all the same? What are your thoughts on the new terms? Let us know in the comments section below!