Mint Explainer: What does Meta's capitulation mean for Indian WhatsApp users and Big Tech?
On Monday, WhatsApp told the Supreme Court it would comply with directions requiring it to give users greater control over the data they share with other Meta entities such as Facebook and Instagram, ending a years-long battle with the Competition Commission of India over its controversial privacy policy update in 2021.The update, which required WhatsApp users to consent to having their data shared with Meta for advertising and non-advertising purposes, quickly drew the attention of the competition watchdog, leading to a landmark case that raised questions about dominance, consent and user choice in India’s wider digital economy.Here’s why Meta backed down this week, and what it means for Big Tech accountability in India.In 2021, Meta released a controversial update to its privacy policy for WhatsApp, requiring users to accept new terms – including expanded data collection and mandatory data sharing with Meta companies – if they wished to continue using the platform.This triggered a backlash worldwide, but especially in India, WhatsApp’s largest market. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) soon ordered a probe, saying the policy update may constitute an abuse of WhatsApp’s dominant position in instant messaging.WhatsApp challenged the probe, arguing that privacy matters were already being deliberated by constitutional courts and remained beyond the jurisdiction of competition law.
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