Two Indian students file PIL against WhatsApp
Two more Indians move the Indian judiciary against Whatsapp's change in Privacy policy.
- Sep 21, 2016,
- Updated Sep 21, 2016 7:46 PM IST
TwoIndian students have filed a public-interest litigation against theFacebook-owned application over the changes in privacy policy.
On August 25, Whatsapp made substantial changes in itsprivacy settings that allows its parent company Facebook to use data fortargeted advertising. Though the user will have a choice to opt out of it, thedata can still be used to "create derivative works".
A Bloomberg report claims that Karmanya Singh Sareen andShreya Sethi have filed a PIL, akin to a class action, in the Delhi High Court.
In response to the plea, a bench of two judges have taken upthe issue and have sent a notice to the concerned authorities at Facebook,WhatsApp and even TRAI to come up with their explanations behind allegedviolation of the users privacy.
Last week, another PIL filed by two Indians criticisedWhatsapp's new policies and demanded for a complete roll-back of the new changes.In response to the plea, Whatsapp claimed it had no access to personal data ofthe users.
Responding to the allegations, senior advocate SiddharthLuthra, who represented the instant messaging platform stated, "we onlyhave access to the person's name and number which is also obtained by onlineconsent. We are abiding by the central government's regulations for messengerapps. We are not dealing with sensitive information at all... If any of theuser wants to opt out of the new policy, he/she cannot be forced to not choosethat option."
Whatsapp is facing serious allegations from all over theworld regarding their new policies. Whatsapp was overtaken by Facebook in the2014 for $19 billion. The acquisition worried the users regarding their privacybut back then WhatsApp's CEO Jan Koum assured that the privacy will remainintact, regardless the new parent company.
Also read: WhatsApp's new privacy policy under scrutiny by Delhi High Court
For Unparalleled coverage of India's Businesses and Economy – Subscribe to Business Today Magazine
TwoIndian students have filed a public-interest litigation against theFacebook-owned application over the changes in privacy policy.
On August 25, Whatsapp made substantial changes in itsprivacy settings that allows its parent company Facebook to use data fortargeted advertising. Though the user will have a choice to opt out of it, thedata can still be used to "create derivative works".
A Bloomberg report claims that Karmanya Singh Sareen andShreya Sethi have filed a PIL, akin to a class action, in the Delhi High Court.
In response to the plea, a bench of two judges have taken upthe issue and have sent a notice to the concerned authorities at Facebook,WhatsApp and even TRAI to come up with their explanations behind allegedviolation of the users privacy.
Last week, another PIL filed by two Indians criticisedWhatsapp's new policies and demanded for a complete roll-back of the new changes.In response to the plea, Whatsapp claimed it had no access to personal data ofthe users.
Responding to the allegations, senior advocate SiddharthLuthra, who represented the instant messaging platform stated, "we onlyhave access to the person's name and number which is also obtained by onlineconsent. We are abiding by the central government's regulations for messengerapps. We are not dealing with sensitive information at all... If any of theuser wants to opt out of the new policy, he/she cannot be forced to not choosethat option."
Whatsapp is facing serious allegations from all over theworld regarding their new policies. Whatsapp was overtaken by Facebook in the2014 for $19 billion. The acquisition worried the users regarding their privacybut back then WhatsApp's CEO Jan Koum assured that the privacy will remainintact, regardless the new parent company.
Also read: WhatsApp's new privacy policy under scrutiny by Delhi High Court
For Unparalleled coverage of India's Businesses and Economy – Subscribe to Business Today Magazine