WhatsApp-Delhi HC
New privacy policy update is not 'mandatory': WhatsApp tells Delhi HC
New Delhi/UNI: The Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp on Friday told the Delhi High Court that its privacy policy update is not 'mandatory' in nature as it does not force any user to accept the same.
WhatsApp also alleged that privacy policies of many Internet-based applications including Big Basket, Koo, Ola, Truecaller, and Zomato as well as the Central Government's contact tracing app Aarogya Setu have similar policies and that some even collect more data.
The plea filed by WhatsApp contended that any interference with its update would 'cripple' the entire industry of internet-based applications and websites.
The new update does not expand WhatsApp's ability to share data with Facebook, the US-based social media firm argued.
It also reiterated that the privacy and security of personal messages and calls do not change and are protected by end-to-end encryption.
WhatsApp and Facebook cannot read or listen to them, the tech giants said.
The Court will hear the matter on Monday.
On May 5, the bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh had asked WhatsApp to file their reply while hearing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Harsha Gupta seeking some interim orders as WhatsApp intends to bring its policy into effect from May 15.
As per the fresh policy of WhatsApp, users have to agree to its new data-sharing norms, a key point of which is sharing data from business conversations with Facebook.
Earlier, the Centre had informed the Delhi High Court that WhatsApp's new privacy policy violated the 2011 IT Rules.
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