By Joe Barrett The Deputy Data Protection Commissioner and Head of Regulatory Activity at the Data Protection Commission (DPC) Tony Delaney said that local…
Red tick
WhatsApp’s changes to its privacy policy are violative of user privacy and consumer rights Now that WhatsApp has clearly indicated in its response to the Centre’s missive last week that it cannot roll back changes to its privacy policy, the latter has no option but to act. The absence of a personal data protection law is a huge handicap in this context but the existing laws, specifically Sections 43A and 72A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, read along with rules framed thereunder, offer scope for the government to act against WhatsApp. Such a course of action may take the battle to the courts but that may not be a bad option as the courts seem best positioned now to offer relief to users and help the law evolve. There is already a PIL being heard in the Delhi High Court on this issue. The basic problem with WhatsApp’s move is that it fails to provide a guarantee against non-disclosure to third parties or allow users to withdraw consent later. . These rules