Get All Access for $5/mo

MeitY Asks WhatsApp To Rollback Its New Privacy Policy The Indian government has given WhatsApp seven days to respond to the notice and failing to do so, the government will take the required steps, according to media reports

By Debarghya Sil

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Pixabay
Representational

Popular messaging platform WhatsApp seems to have hit another roadblock for its much controversial privacy policy. The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) on May 19 has directed the Mark Zuckerberg-owned messaging platform to roll back its privacy policy, according to media reports.

The ministry has informed WhatsApp that the changes to the privacy policy and the manner of introducing these changes, including in FAQ, undermines the sacrosanct values of informational privacy, data security and user choice for Indian users and harms the rights and interests of Indian citizens.

According to media reports, the government has given seven days to the company to respond to the notice and failing to do so, the government will take the required steps.

It is to be noted that the hearing on the WhatsApp policy update has been ongoing in the Delhi High court, where the Central government has kept the same stance and mentioned that the policy update violates the Indian Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.

The controversy erupted when WhatsApp notified its users about the mandatory privacy policy update in January, this year. After reading about the update, users feared that WhatsApp will be sharing personal data to Facebook, causing a mass exodus to other messaging platforms.

WhatsApp also had to push its update from February to May 15. However, since then, WhatsApp has clarified that the privacy policy will have no impact on the personal chats or profile data of a user but is related to WhatsApp Business Accounts using the service for customer service purposes.

According to media reports, WhatsApp's app install number fell by 43 per cent between January and April this year, as people flocked to Signal and Telegram.

Debarghya Sil

Entrepreneur Staff

Former Correspondent

Business News

If Your Bank Is Calling, Don't Answer. It's Probably a Scam.

Scammers are getting sophisticated, from AI voices and videos to spoofing caller IDs. Here's how to spot them.

Franchise

Expanding Your Franchise Overseas Can Make You Millions — Or Tank Your Profits If You Don't Consider These Risks.

Deciding to expand your franchise concept internationally is a challenging one. Doing so can provide growth opportunities far beyond those in your current home market. But doing so before you're ready can create undue stress on your system. International expansion requires a full investment of time and resources to do it right; it is a serious commitment that reburies hard work, supported by a well-thought-out and well-executed game plan.

Growing a Business

How to Choose The Right Insurance Broker to Grow Your Lower to Mid-Market Company in 2025 and Beyond

Private, client-focused insurance firms matter more than ever in 2025 — here's why.

Starting a Business

From Side Gig to 6-Figure Success — How I Built a Thriving Home-Based Business as a Busy Family Man

I've made over $17,000,000 for clients worldwide and brought in multiple six figures for myself, all while barely leaving my kitchen.

Data & Recovery

4 Steps Companies Must Take to Get Their Data Ready for AI

Companies are increasingly looking to implement AI into their workplaces to optimize day to day operations. But, if employers and employees alike want to integrate AI, they first need to prepare their data.