WhatsApp to Delhi HC: New privacy policy doesn't violate IT rules, user accounts will be deleted if policy not accepted

“We have asked users to agree to the policy. If they don’t agree we will delete them... there is no deferment of policy,” said Senior advocate Kapil Sibal who is appearing for WhatsApp.

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The facebook-owned mobile messaging application WhatsApp told Delhi High Court on Monday, May 17 that it would not postpone or suspend its new privacy policy. It was also said that in case users don’t agree to the new privacy policy, their accounts will be slowly deleted.

The Centre on Monday filed the claim before a bench of Chief Justice D.N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh that it views the new WhatsApp privacy policy as a violation of the Indian Information Technology law and rules.

However, the platform submitted a reply through Senior advocate Kapil Sibal saying, “We have asked users to agree to the policy. If they don’t agree we will delete them... there is no deferment of policy.”

Kapil Sibal said that ‘Whatsapp was trying to get users on board with the new policy.’

Also Read: WhatsApp’s controversial new privacy policy goes live, Know what will happen to your account

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Central government said that WhatsApp's new privacy policy is in violation of the IT Act, 2000 and also revealed that the Centre has written to the CEO of the company and is waiting for a reply.

Countering the claims, Senior Advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for WhatsApp along with Kapil Sibal argued, “We can make a very clear statement that our privacy policy does not violate the IT Rules, we can go rule by rule.”

Whatsapp’s new privacy policy was originally supposed to implement on February 8. But the decision followed huge criticism and thus company delayed the date to May 15.

For now, Delhi High Court has adjourned the matter till June 3 and the new privacy policy of WhatsApp will not be deferred.


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