SC to hear Meta-WhatsApp privacy policy case on Monday
SC to hear Meta-WhatsApp privacy policy case on Monday
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/sc-to-hear-meta-whatsapp-privacy-policy-case-on-monday/
Publish Date: 2026-02-22 05:09:00
Source Domain: www.tribuneindia.com
The Supreme Court will take up on Monday petitions of Meta and WhatsApp against a Competition Commission of India (CCI) order imposing a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore over their privacy policy.
The matter will be heard by a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, which had on February 3 made strong observations against Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp.
“You cannot play with the right to privacy of citizens of this country in the name of data sharing. We will not allow you to share a single word of the data. Either you give an undertaking or we will have to pass an order. You cannot violate the right to privacy of citizens,” the Bench had said.
While hearing appeals of the Meta and WhatsApp challenging a Competition Commission of India (CCI) order imposing a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore over the privacy policy, the Bench had highlighted the unavailability of any clear option for a WhatsApp user to opt out of such a privacy policy.
On behalf of Meta and WhatsApp, senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Akhil Sibal had told the Bench that the penalty amount had already been deposited.
The CCI has also moved the top court challenging the NCLAT’s order allowing Meta and WhatsApp to share users’ data for advertising purposes.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had said that “our personal data is not only sold, but also commercially exploited”.
“Where is the question of opting out? Show me on your mobile. This is a decent way of committing theft of private information. You know your commercial interest and you also know how you have made consumers addicted to the app. Everybody uses it. If users have a right to opt-out, how will they know this right exists? Let’s see the option. When it comes to opting out, the information is in a newspaper. How will a person know?” the CJI had asked.
Describing Meta and WhatsApp users as silent, unorganized and digitally dependent customers unaware of the implications of data-sharing policies, the top court had…
