WhatsApp privacy policy violates Indian IT law, Centre tells court

WhatsApp's new privacy policy was implemented on May 15, i.e. Saturday, which means users who haven't accepted it yet will keep getting full-screen prompts but will soon lose basic app features. On Monday, WhatsApp told the Delhi High Court that it would not delete users accounts that haven't accepted the new policy and will "encourage them to get on board."

The Centre again questioned WhatsApp on Monday on whether the new privacy policy violates the Indian Information Technology (IT) law and rules. During a court proceeding where several PILs were filed challenging the latest privacy policy of WhatsApp, the Centre told a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh in the Delhi High Court that the new privacy policy of WhatsApp violates IT law. The Centre added that it had sought directions to the social media platform to make it clear whether it was confirming the same (IT law). The messaging platform, owned by Facebook, clarified that its new privacy policy has already come into effect from May 15. The platform also added that it would not start deleting accounts of users who are yet to accept the privacy policy. WhatsApp said that it would try to encourage users who haven't accepted the terms so far to accept them.