The Supreme Court of India on Monday told WhatsApp and its parent company Meta that they must strictly comply with Indian laws or be prepared to exit the country. The court made it clear that commercial interests cannot override the fundamental rights and privacy of Indian citizens.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice Suryakant said India will not allow even a “single piece of personal data” to be shared for business purposes. “Companies operating in India must follow the Constitution and the laws of this country. We will not permit anyone to play with the privacy of our people. If Meta is unwilling to comply, it is free to leave India,” the Chief Justice observed.
The sharp remarks came while hearing petitions filed by Meta and WhatsApp challenging a ₹213.14 crore fine imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) over WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy.
The court expressed serious concern over changes in WhatsApp’s privacy policy and its move to share user data with other Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook. Emphasising that data sharing will not be allowed under any circumstances, the Bench reaffirmed that protecting citizens’ privacy is non-negotiable.
The Supreme Court said it will deliver its verdict on February 10, a decision that could have far-reaching implications for data protection and the future of digital platforms operating in India.
