WhatsApp Fined 213 Crore, Court Warns: Follow Rules or Leave India

• The Supreme Court strongly reprimanded Meta over WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy, stating, "Playing with privacy will not be tolerated."
• Chief Justice Surya warned WhatsApp to abide by India's Constitution or leave the country, emphasizing that exploitation of Indian citizens will not be allowed.
• The Company Law Tribunal upheld the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) Rs 213 crore fine against WhatsApp for its 2021 privacy update.
• The court questioned the complexity of WhatsApp's privacy policy, highlighting that it's difficult for common citizens, especially in rural areas, to understand.
• WhatsApp was accused of abusing its dominant market position by forcing users to accept data sharing with other Meta platforms, leading to the fine.

Why It Matters: Indian courts are cracking down on WhatsApp's privacy policies, imposing a hefty fine and warning compliance or exit.