WhatsApp responds to Indian govt letter about new privacy policy

Reacting to the letter by Ministry of information and Technology, WhatsApp has said that it is ready to address any misinformation around its updated policy and remains available to answer all the questions.

According to reports, the instant messaging platform said that it is committed to protecting personal messages with end-to-end encryption and re-emphasized that neither WhatsApp or Facebook can read them.

“WhatsApp will always protect personal messages with end-to-end encryption so that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see them. We are working to address misinformation and remain available to answer any questions,” a WhatsApp spokesperson said.

It further added that the new policy doesn’t expand WhatsApp ability to share data with Facebook. This means the user data remains safe.

“We wish to reinforce that this update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook. Our aim is to provide transparency and new options available to engage with businesses so they can serve their customers and grow,” the spokesperson said.

The reaction comes a day after MEITY had written a letter to WhatsApp asking it to keep Indian users out of the new privacy policy and the new terms and conditions that users have to accept to use the app. In its letter to WhatsApp MEITY has raised several questions and objections. The letter notes that sharing of some data — including business data — generated with WhatsApp with Facebook will weaken the information security of the users.

The biggest objection raised by the MEITY includes the non-voluntary nature of the new policy. Users will have to accept it or else they will not be able to use WhatsApp, and MEITY says that this lack of choice is unfair to users