WhatsApp has been criticized for imposing its new privacy policy on Facebook or die. Criticism of this change not only forced him to delay the implementation deadline, but also caused an exodus that is seeing users migrate to Telegram and Signal. Giving yet another blow to Facebook’s messaging service is a letter written by an Indian government ministry that asks WhatsApp to withdraw the new privacy policy altogether.
As a reminder, the new policy was announced a few weeks ago and stated that certain data would be shared with Facebook. In addition, the app also set a now extended deadline that would require users to agree to the new terms of service by February 8, if they plan to continue using the app.
In response, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) wrote to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart asking for the withdrawal of the proposed changes to the privacy policy for users in the country. The letter includes several strong points, one of which questions the different treatment of the European Union, where the privacy policy remains unchanged.
The government seeks clarification on what type of data WhatsApp collects and raises concerns about how sharing data with Facebook can create security risks and vulnerabilities for users.
With more than 400 million users, India represents the largest market for WhatsApp. This, coupled with the fact that it plays a strategic role in Facebook’s $ 5.7 billion investment in India’s largest telecommunications company, means that this development could have significant ramifications for the company’s plans. We will update this story as it unfolds.
