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YB WEB DESK. Dated: 1/15/2021 11:26:27 AM

WhatsApp's new privacy policy challenged in High Court

New Delhi, Jan 14 A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has challenged the new privacy policy of the instant messaging app, WhatsApp in the Delhi High Court. The petitioner contends that the new privacy policy of WhatsApp authorises the company to look into the virtual activities of the users. Petitioner Chaitanya Rohilla, a lawyer, said in his plea that the new privacy policy of WhatsApp is a violation of the right to privacy of an individual. Right to privacy has been declared a fundamental right by the Supreme Court. WhatsApp is owned by Facebook. The petition states that platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook have already been sharing the users' data with the third party in unauthorised manner. It also says that the new privacy policy of WhatsApp has been rolled out without seeking permission from the government. The petitioner has sought immediate stay on the new privacy policy of WhatsApp and direction to the central government for issuing guidelines for the use of WhatsApp keeping in mind the right to privacy of the individuals. WhatsApp updated its privacy policy last week making it compulsory for its users to accept those terms and conditions failing which the services of the instant messaging app would be blocked after February 8.