WhatsApp’s privacy rules unlawful: Govt

The government on Friday requested the Delhi high court to restrain WhatsApp from implementing its controversial privacy policy update, contending that the new policy fails to comply with local user privacy and data protection rules.

The government’s affidavit compounds the problems for the messaging app, which has faced a backlash from users with millions of users moving to rival apps such as Telegram and Signal. The outcry forced WhatsApp to delay the launch of the new policy to May. A WhatsApp spokesperson declined to comment on the government’s affidavit.

The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by Seema Singh, through advocate Meghan, challenging the WhatsApp policy update.