WhatsApp-parent Meta said that it disagrees with the Competition Commission (CCI) decision of imposing Rs 213 crore penalty. The CCI, on Monday, imposed a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on the social media giant for unfair business ways with respect to WhatsApp privacy policy update done in 2021. As per a PTI report, a Meta spokesperson said that the company disagrees with the CCI‘s decision and plans to appeal.
What Meta said
“As a reminder, the 2021 update did not change the privacy of people’s personal messages and was offered as a choice for users at the time. We also ensured no one would have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of the WhatsApp service because of this update,” the Meta spokesperson said.
The company stated that the 2021 update provided further transparency about data collection and usage along with introducing optional business features on WhatsApp. The Meta spokesperson said that since that time, WhatsApp has been incredibly valuable to people and businesses, enabling organisations and government institutions to deliver citizen services through COVID and beyond, and as well as supporting small businesses in furtherance of the India economy.
“WhatsApp is able to do all of this because it offers services supported by Meta. We are committed to finding a path forward that allows us to continue providing the experiences that people and businesses have come to expect from us,” the spokesperson added.
CCI barred WhatsApp from sharing data
In its order, CCI has refrained WhatsApp from sharing data collected on its platform with other Meta companies or Meta company products for advertising purposes for five years. It said that the messaging platform must add prominent in-app notifications allowing users to opt out of data sharing with Meta’s other platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. A new dedicated tab in WhatsApp settings will let users review and modify their data-sharing preferences.
“This explanation should specify the purpose of data sharing, linking each type of data to its corresponding purpose,” it said.
“The interface modifications represent a significant shift in how WhatsApp handles user privacy in India,” said a CCI spokesperson. “Users will have greater control over their data through easily accessible opt-out options.”
Also read: CCI has fined Meta Rs 231 crore and it also means WhatsApp is changing for you