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WhatsApp Messenger, the Facebook-owned messaging platform, is reportedly under investigation from CCI (Competition Commission of India) for its new service terms and privacy policy, which have allegedly resulted in anti-competitive practices.
For those unaware, WhatsApp’s new privacy policy involves sharing of user data across all Facebook-owned companies. The company had postponed the roll-out of its updated terms and conditions from February to March after receiving significant criticism for the same.
It then announced that all users will either have to accept the new terms & conditions or would not be able to use the messaging service. It is worth noting the fact that WhatsApp accounted for 2 billion MAU (monthly active users) in 2020 alone.
CCI claims that WhatsApp has been forcing its users to comply with the new terms & conditions, which has led to the apparent investigation. The Indian regulator added that WhatsApp’s conduct of sharing users’ personal information with other Facebook products, in a manner that is neither transparent nor voluntary, appears to be unfair to the users.
WhatsApp’s data-sharing practices with other Facebook companies showcase the use of building user profiles by cross-linking data is collected which could provide it with a competitive advantage. The motive behind sharing such information goes against the user’s legitimate expectations regarding security, quality, and additional relevant aspects of using the service, CCI added.
A spokesperson from WhatsApp was reported saying that the company is looking forward to engaging with the Indian regulator. He added that WhatsApp has always been committed to protecting its users’ communication using end-to-end encryption while offering transparency regarding the operations of the new business features.
The Competition Commission of India will conduct a detailed investigation which is required to understand the complete scope and impact of sharing information through involuntary consent of users, sources claimed.
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