WhatsApp Faces First Legal Challenge in India Over Updated Privacy Policy

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WhatsApp's up to date privateness coverage verges on consumer surveillance and threatens India's safety, a petition filed in an Indian courtroom stated on Thursday, presenting one other authorized problem for the Facebook-owned messenger.

California-based WhatsApp stated on January 4 it reserved the precise to share some information together with location and cellphone quantity with Facebook and its models comparable to Instagram and Messenger.

That triggered outrage, together with in its greatest market India the place it has 400 million customers.

The change has additionally met with a problem in Turkey with the nation's Competition Board this week launching an investigation into the messaging service and its guardian.

In India, many customers have started putting in rival apps like Signal and Telegram, pushing WhatsApp to start a pricey promoting marketing campaign to calm prospects.

"It virtually gives a 360-degree profile into a person's online activity," lawyer Chaitanya Rohilla stated of Whatsapp's new coverage within the petition to the Delhi High Court.

'Browbeating'

A replica of the petition, seen by Reuters, stated Whatsapp was jeopardising nationwide safety by sharing, transmitting and storing consumer information abroad with the knowledge thus ruled by overseas legal guidelines.

"WhatsApp has made a mockery out of our fundamental right to privacy," it stated.

WhatsApp has given customers a February 8 deadline to conform to the brand new phrases.

"This type of arbitrary behaviour and browbeating cannot be accepted in a democracy and is completely 'ultra vires' (beyond its powers) and against the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution of India," the petition added.

It can be heard by the Delhi High Court on Friday.

WhatsApp didn't reply to a request for remark. It has beforehand stated the coverage replace doesn't have an effect on privateness of messages with family and friends, as group chats are encrypted and the modifications solely relate to interactions with companies.

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