Hyderabad: WhatsApp, the popular messaging app does not need any introduction to a majority of mobile phone users. Ours is a country in which the number of internet users has already crossed the 70 crore mark and is still increasing.
Almost 40 crores among the internet users of our country are WhatsApp users. This clearly reveals the popularity of the app in India.
Such a popular mobile app, that has deeply penetrated into the lives of the people, has recently announced that it has changed its privacy policy and those who do not accept the new policy by February 8, 2021, cannot be able to make use of the app any further.
To the shock and dismay of over 200 crore users from across the globe, WhatsApp’s new policy stipulates information sharing with its company owner Facebook and sister concerns.
Many are looking for alternatives as they fear that the information shared with Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms would be open for all internet users.
As a result lakhs of users have diverted to other apps like telegram and signal. This is naturally a cause of concern for WhatsApp.
The Central government has itself sought withdrawal of the new privacy policy. While remaining mum on the government directive, WhatsApp has nevertheless postponed the implementation of new privacy policy till May 15.
The social media giant is stating that by that date it would convince the users about the safety of their privacy.
This clearly narrates WhatsApp’s strong will to have its final say in the matter.
Rejecting a case filed by an advocate challenging the new privacy policy of WhatsApp, the Delhi High Court has said that accepting the privacy policy of the social messaging app was a voluntary thing and one can choose not to use or join that platform.
The matter in issue is too sensitive to end with that. Recently, yet another petition filed before the Supreme Court of India on information safety was in news.
WhatsApp has rejected the allegations of information pilferage and additional security to data safety. No matter what policy is adopted by whom, any compromise on the citizen’s individual privacy is unpardonable. It is worth recalling that in 2017, the Supreme Court had pronounced that personal privacy is as much a fundamental right of an individual as the right to life, right to equality and right to freedom of speech and expression.
The court had called upon the government to protect the privacy of the people.
In more than 90 countries of the world, strong laws are in force for the protection of individual privacy. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enacted by the European Union is considered superior in quality among such laws.
In those countries, WhatsApp cannot share information with Facebook. However, WhatsApp is trying to take advantage of the situation in India where no such strong law is in vogue. The government should not allow WhatsApp’s games to succeed.
The government should immediately enact a law that disallows the usage of the citizens’ private information for other purposes.
According to experts, the Individual Information Safety Bill, introduced in Parliament in December 2019 is not strong enough.
Enactment of a strong law on the lines of GDPR is the best antidote for controversies such as the one raked up by WhatsApp.
Also Read: Parliamentary panel members flag concerns over WhatsApp's proposed new privacy policy
