Summary
WhatsAppp has refused to comply with the Indian government over its privacy policy of end-to-end encryption, which, WhatsApp said, is not ready to compromise with. The government wants WhatsApp to track any person suspected of spreading fake news or misinformation. WhatsApp, however, has declined to comply because the company is not ready to break the promise of privacy and freedom of speech it offers. The company might have to re-think its policies because the consequences out of this
Highlights:
- The Indian Government wants WhatsApp to track any person spreading misinformation or fake news, especially ahead of the general elections.
- WhatsApp is not willing to dismantle the end-to-end encryption it provides.
- “WhatsApp feels the proposed guidelines are too broad and not in sync with privacy protection norms that are important to people everywhere. What is expected from the rules is just not possible considering the end-to-end encryption the company provides—it would mean a new product,” a person with knowledge told the Economic Times newspaper.
- If WhatsApp changes the way it works in India, it might have to change its privacy policies around the world. This is another reason why the American company does not want to change its policy of privacy and freedom of expression it offers to its users.