WhatsApp puts its new privacy policy on hold

WhatsApp told the Delhi High Court on Friday that till the Data Protection Bill comes into force, it would not compel users to opt for its new privacy policy as it has been put on hold.

WhatsApp also clarified before the bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh that in the meantime, it would not limit the functionality for users who are not opting for the new privacy policy.

Appearing for the instant messaging platform, Senior Advocate Harish Salve said, "We voluntarily agreed to put it (the policy) on hold... we will not compel people to accept."

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Salve said that WhatsApp would nonetheless continue to display the update to its users.

The court is hearing the appeals of Facebook and its firm WhatsApp against the single-judge order refusing to stop the competition regulator CCI's order directing a probe into WhatsApp's new privacy policy.

The new privacy policy of WhatsApp was supposed to come into effect in early February. However, given the opposition to this new requirement, the messaging app delayed the rollout till May 15 and was further delayed.

WhatsApp also told the court that the privacy of the users will always remain its highest priority. It said, "... recent update does not change the privacy of people's personal messages. Its purpose is to provide additional information about how people can interact with businesses if they choose to do so."

Earlier, the government told the Delhi High Court that WhatsApp was trying to “force” users into accepting the new policy before the Data Protection Bill becomes law.

The government had also ordered WhatsApp to withdraw the policy, saying the changes undermined the privacy and data security of users and harmed the rights of Indian citizens.

The IT ministry has pointed to WhatsApp that the policy followed by them was the discriminatory treatment of Indian users when compared to those in Europe where one did not have compulsorily accept the new policy.