Indian Government asks WhatsApp to review privacy policy

WhatsApp users are to accept the new policy by March 15 to continue using the app

Minister of State for IT and Communications Sanjay Dhotre told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the Indian Government has asked Facebook owned, instant messaging app WhatsApp to review its recent privacy policy changes.

WhatsApp found itself as the subject of public outrage across the world, especially in India for updating its privacy policy, the implementation of which was delayed to 15th of May from 8th of February due to the massive controversy the policy update caused. While the Facebook-owned corporation claims that it has no impact on the privacy of individual chats, it is allowing companies to obtain user information in order to provide ‘personalized experiences’.

The messaging app company through various public announcements tried to assure its users about privacy issues. WhatsApp clarified that all messages sent through the platform are encrypted end-to-end and that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook have access to private messages sent through the platform. It was faced by questions by the Indian Government regarding the same contentious privacy policy.

WhatsApp recently informed its users that if they wish to use WhatsApp and continue on with it, they must embrace the amended policy changes by March 15.

On Wednesday, Dhotre in a transcribed response to the Lok Sabha informed, "Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) took cognizance of the WhatsApp announcement of its new Privacy Policy stated to be applicable to Indian users. To safeguard the interest of Indian users, MeitY has asked WhatsApp to review the proposed privacy policy changes and also to explain the rationale of the same."