WhatsApp

WhatsApp had moved the High Court, challenging the new IT rules on the grounds that they violate the right to privacy and are unconstitutional. Objecting to the new IT rules, WhatsApp claimed that they are forced to 'track' the origin of messages received through the network. According to reports, the Mark Zuckerberg-owned platform filed the petition on May 25, the last day to comply with the new criteria.

In its second monthly report for the 30-day period of August 1-August 31, under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, WhatsApp received 420 grievances from users in India received via e-mails and mails sent to the India Grievance Officer via post. The platform acted upon 41 of those grievances.

People can also now download vaccine certificates through the MyGov and WhatsApp chatbot, which was launched on August 5; thus far, over 32 lakh certificates have been downloaded by users across the country.One of the most reliable sources of COVID-related information in the country has been the MyGov Corona Helpdesk on WhatsApp.

In the report, released in line with the requirements of India's Intermediary Guidelines, 2021, WhatsApp said that user reports received by the platform via the grievance channels are evaluated and responded to. "Our top focus is preventing accounts from sending harmful or unwanted messages at scale. We maintain advanced capabilities to identify these accounts sending a high or abnormal rate of messages," the company said.

This is a significant development after the new Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made it crystal clear within minutes of taking charge that "law of the land is supreme" and no one can afford to disrespect it. A vacation bench of Justices Anup J. Bhambhani and Jasmeet Singh had said, "We do not consider it appropriate to stay the operation of impugned notice dated June 4, 2021 at this stage."

The company said that it will maintain this approach "until at least the forthcoming PDP law comes into effect". The reaction came after the Centre claimed that WhatsApp is indulging in anti-users' practices by obtaining "trick consent" from its users for its updated privacy policy, under a game plan to transfer the existing users committed to its policy.

It emphasized that WhatsApp is indulging in anti-users' practices by obtaining the "trick consent" from its users for its updated privacy policy. "It is submitted that millions of WhatsApp existing users, those who have not accepted the updated 2021 privacy policy are being bombarded with notifications on an everyday basis," said the affidavit, citing a screenshot of the push notification and urged the court to restrain WhatsApp from "pushing notifications".

The suspense continues over whether Twitter will comply with the new digital rules or not.  The micro-blogging site has not sent details of the chief compliance officer to the IT Ministry, according to the PTI report. The company has shared details of a lawyer working in a law firm as a nodal contact person and grievance officer though the IT rules clearly require these designated officers to be employees of the company.

The central government had earlier notified social media platforms about new laws that would curtail some of the benefits enjoyed by these big social media players. One of the new IT rules on traceability was then contested in the Delhi High Court by WhatsApp who refused to comply with it.

WhatsApp submitted the requirement will force it to break end-to-end encryption on its messaging service, as well as the privacy principles underlying it, and infringe upon the fundamental rights to privacy and free speech of the hundreds of millions of citizens using it to communicate privately and securely. It has challenged the requirement in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules,