WhatsApp tells Delhi HC new privacy policy on hold

WhatsApp told the Delhi high court on Friday it will voluntarily put a hold on the rollout of its ‘contentious’ new privacy policy until a data protection bill comes into force. It also told the court that it won’t limit the functionality of its platform to users who choose not to opt for the new privacy policy in the meanwhile. "We will not limit functionality of how WhatsApp works in the coming weeks. Instead, we will continue to remind users from time to time about the update... we will maintain this approach until at least the forthcoming PDP law comes into effect," the company said in a statement issued after the hearing. Appearing for WhatsApp and Facebook, senior counsel Harish Salve informed the high court that the new privacy policies were on hold.

Whatsapp also clarified before bench of Chief justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh that it would not limit the functionality for users who are not opting for new privacy policy in the meantime. Harish Salve further told the Delhi High Court: "We have said we will not do this [enforce policy] for a while. Suppose the Bill allows me to do it, we will have completely different ramifications." Harish Salve said, "The MeitY [Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology] feels WhatsApp's privacy policy is against Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules 2011," "We replied to MeitY's notice seeking a response, saying that WhatsApp will not limit functionality for some time and continue to show users the update," Harish Salve said.

WhatsApp further said it "reiterates that privacy of users remains our highest priority". The company said "... recent update does not change the privacy of people's personal messages. Its purpose is to provide additional information about how people can interact with businesses if they choose to do so." With 500 million+ users, India is WhatsApp's biggest market and it has big plans for the country.