NEW DELHI:
The Indian government has asked WhatsApp to withdraw the recent changes in the privacy policy of the messaging app, saying unilateral changes are not fair and acceptable.
In a strongly worded letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said India is home to the largest user base of WhatsApp globally and is one the biggest markets for its services.
Indian govt writes to WhatsApp: Any unilateral changes to WhatsApp terms of service, privacy not fair and acceptable
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 19, 2021
Proposed changes to WhatsApp privacy policy raise grave concerns; should be withdrawn: Indian govt to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 19, 2021
The proposed changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy “raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens,” it wrote.
The ministry asked WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed changes and reconsider its approach to information privacy, freedom of choice and data security.
Stating that Indians should be properly respected, it said, “any unilateral changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy would not be fair and acceptable.”
Government has also sent a detailed questionnaire to WhatsApp seeking more details about its data sharing protocols and business practices.
Why Different Treatment for Indian and European Users
The Ministry has raised strong objections against the differential treatment by WhatsApp to its users in India and in the European Union.
It says that the differential and discriminatory treatment of Indian and European users is attracting serious criticism and shows lack of respect for the rights and interests of Indian citizens, who form one of the largest user base for WhatsApp.
Such a differential treatment is prejudicial to the interests of Indian users and is viewed with serious concern by the Government.
Ministry has sent a questionnaire containing 14 questions, some of the key questions are given below:
· Disclose the exact categories of data that WhatsApp application collects from Indian users.
· Give details of the permissions and user consent sought by WhatsApp app and utility of each of these with respect to the functioning and specific service provided.
· Does WhatsApp conduct profiling of Indian users on the basis of their usage of application? What nature of profiling is conducted?
· Details of difference between WhatsApp privacy policies in other countries and India.
· Details of Data Security Policy, Information Security Policy, Cyber Security Policy, Privacy Policy and Encryption Policy.
· Does the WhatsApp app share data with any other app or business unit of the same company or associated companies? Share details of the data flow among these apps, business units or associated companies.
· Does the WhatsApp app capture the information about the other apps running on the mobile device of the user? If yes, what information is being captured by the app and what purpose is it being collected and used?
· Details about the server when data of Indian users is transmitted or hosted.
· Has the company or application provided any access to a third party to access a user’s personal data? If yes, then share those details.
·       Does the app harvest user data? Has the company faced any action in any country for surreptitiously harvesting user data?
— With PTI Inputs
