Govt seeks details of services provided by WhatsApp in India, categories of data collected and  consents sought

Ahead of a meeting of a Parliamentary panel on Information technology on Thursday to discuss safety and security of users on social media, the Government on Tuesday asked WhatsApp to withdraw the recent changes in the privacy policy of the messaging app, saying unilateral changes are unfair and unacceptable.

In a strongly-worded letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said India is home to the largest user base of WhatsApp globally and is one the biggest markets for its services.

The proposed changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, without giving users an option to opt-out, “raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens,” it said.

The Ministry asked WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed changes and reconsider its approach to information privacy, freedom of choice and data security.

WhatsApp had on January 16 delayed the introduction of the new privacy policy after user backlash over sharing of user data and information with the parent company, Facebook.

Stating that Indians should be properly respected, the Ministry said, “Any unilateral changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy would not be fair and acceptable.”

With over 400 million users in India, the changes will have a disproportionate impact on the country’s citizens, the letter said.

It asked WhatsApp to provide details of the services provided by it in India, categories of data collected and permissions and consents sought.

Also, WhatsApp has been asked to explain if it conducts profiling of Indian users on the basis of their usage, as well as explain difference between the privacy policy in India and other countries.

WhatsApp has also been asked to provide policy on data and information security, privacy and encryption.

It has also been asked to detail data sharing with other apps and if it captures information about other apps running on the mobile phones of the user.

The Parliamentary standing committee on IT has summoned Facebook and  Twitter officials on January 21 in connection with the prevention of misuse of social media.

The panel would discuss measures of safeguarding citizens rights and ways to prevent misuse of social media in the light of the evidence presented to it by to the committee.