The Indian government has asked WhatsApp to withdraw the recent changes in the privacy policy of the messaging app.
In a strongly worded letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology wrote, “India is home to the largest user base of WhatsApp globally and is one the biggest markets for its services. The proposed changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens”.
The ministry asked WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed changes and reconsider its approach to information privacy, freedom of choice and data security.
WhatsApp new privacy policy implementation which was originally scheduled to come into effect on February 8, has been delayed by three months after facing massive backlash with tens of millions of its users. Most of them started moving from the platform to rivals like Signal and Telegram.
