Indian antitrust regulator orders probe into WhatsApp privacy policy, report sought in 60 days

The Competition Commission of India is now probing WhatsApp's new privacy and user policy because it believes that this policy can harm competition as well as interest of users. Users have to accept the new WhatsApp policy by May 15.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered a probe in WhatsApp's new privacy policy and updated terms and conditions that users have to accept before May 15 if they want to continue using the chat app. The CCI, in its order on Wednesday evening, said that that the new WhatsApp policy seems unfair to users and hence requires investigation. It noted in its order, "On a careful and thoughtful consideration of the matter, the conduct of WhatsApp in sharing of users' personalised data with other Facebook Companies, in a manner that is neither fully transparent nor based on voluntary and specific user consent, appears prima facie unfair to users." The CCI also says that so far, the response it has received from WhatsApp and Facebook on this matter is evasive and seems disingenuous. This, too, necessitates the need for a probe. "The Commission directs the DG (director-general) to complete the investigation and submit the investigation report within a period of 60 days from the receipt of this order," notes the order.