"Follow the Law or Leave India"

Supreme Court Issues Stern Ultimatum to WhatsApp and Meta

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@hindostantimes.com

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NEW DELHI – In a landmark hearing concerning digital privacy, the Supreme Court of India has issued a sharp warning to Meta and its subsidiary, WhatsApp, stating that the companies must comply with the land's laws or cease operations in the country.

During the hearing, the bench led by the Chief Justice expressed deep dissatisfaction with the tech giant’s data-sharing practices, remarking, "If you cannot follow the laws of this country, then leave India."

The Court emphasized that the privacy of Indian citizens is "sacrosanct" and cannot be compromised for the commercial interests of a multinational corporation.

 The bench criticized the "Take it or leave it" nature of WhatsApp's privacy policy, noting that the platform's market dominance leaves users with no choice but to agree to invasive terms.

The observation came while the court was hearing Meta's challenge against the ₹213 crore fine recently imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for anti-competitive data-sharing practices linked to the 2021 policy update.

The Supreme Court's stance marks a significant shift in how Big Tech is regulated in India. The court is specifically scrutinizing how WhatsApp monetizes user metadata and whether it violates the fundamental right to privacy.

> "People's privacy is far more important than your business interests." — Supreme Court Observation