Supreme Court Questions WhatsApp's 2021 Privacy Policy: A Threat to User Consent?

• India's Supreme Court raised concerns over WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy, citing potential threats to constitutional protections around user choice and consent.
• The policy changes allowed WhatsApp to share account, device, transaction, and business interaction data with Meta Platforms and affiliated businesses.
• WhatsApp maintained that private conversations remain end-to-end encrypted, but data from business interactions could be used for targeted advertising across Meta apps.
• The Supreme Court questioned the 'binary choice' presented to users (accept or lose access), calling it 'manufactured consent' due to WhatsApp's widespread use in India.
• The case stems from the Competition Commission of India's finding that WhatsApp misused its dominant market position, potentially restricting consumer choice and reinforcing Meta's advertising advantage.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court scrutinizes WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy, highlighting concerns over user consent and data sharing.