Centre urges HC to restrain WhatsApp from implementing privacy policy

New Delhi: The central government on Friday urged the Delhi High Court to restrain social networking platform WhatsApp from implementing its new privacy policy.

"It is humbly prayed that the Respondent No. 2 [WhatsApp] may be restrained from implementing its new privacy policy and terms of service dated 04.01.2021 from 08.02.2021 or any subsequent date pending adjudication by this Hon'ble Court," the government stated in an affidavit.

On February 2, the court had sought the Central Government's response on a private petition challenging the new privacy policy of WhatsApp.

WhatsApp had asked users to either give their consent to sharing data with Facebook or lose their accounts after February 8. However, following a widespread protest and backlast by WhatsApp users, the platform extended the deadline to May 15, and has been conducting campaigns across different media to clarify its position to reassure its customer base.

The contention put forth by the petitioners, Dr. Seema Singh, through Advocate Meghan Singh, is that the new policy of the WhatsApp policy can result in a damage to the privacy of the customer date of Indian citizens. citizens.

The plea submitted that the fissures in law with respect to data are quite conspicuous and a framework to regulate the same is the need of the hour.

It has sought a direction from the court to the Central Government to frame rules, guidelines, regulations to protect privacy and data of the citizens from all the apps and organisations operating in India.

The petitioner had also entreated the High Court to direct the Centre to tell WhatsApp to either roll back their policy or provide an option to opt out of the January 4, 2021 privacy policy and also to provide users who have accepted the privacy policy to be given another option to choose for themselves.

(With IANS input)