NEW DELHI: Instant messaging platform WhatsApp today opposed a plea in the Delhi High Court alleging that the privacy of its users had been threatened by a new privacy policy announced by Facebook, saying there were regulations and the latter does not have access to any data as it provides end-to-end encryption.
WhatsApp made major changes to its privacy policy on August 25, the first time since it was acquired by Facebook, giving users the option to share their account information with the social media giant. The messaging service gave its users 30 days until September 25 to opt out of the policy.
The submission was made before a bench comprising Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, who were hearing a PIL against WhatsApp’s recent decision to share user data with parent company Facebook.
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing on WhatsApp, said there are government regulations and the app does not share users’ messages, content, photos or private data with Facebook.
He said WhatsApp only shares a user’s name and phone number with Facebook. "WhatsApp does not have access to any data as it provides end-to-end encryption.”
"We only have access to the name and number of the person, which is also obtained through online consent. We comply with the central government regulations for messaging apps. We do not deal with sensitive information at all,” Luthra said, adding that "if any of the users want to opt out of the new policy, they cannot be forced not to choose that option.”
To this, the court asked WhatsApp to file a brief affidavit by September 20 explaining the factual position with respect to the concerns raised in the writ petition.
However, senior advocate Pratibha M Singh, appearing for petitioners Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi, argued that the messaging service was sharing all data with Facebook even if users opt out of the new policy.
The petitioners, users of the popular instant messaging service, have alleged that WhatsApp, Facebook Inc. and Facebook India Online Pvt LtdThe new privacy policy "compromises the rights of its users”, which also represents a "very serious breach of the policy.”