Antitrust fine in India: Meta wants to appeal

US group Meta on Tuesday announced that it disagrees with the fine imposed by the Indian competition authority Competition Commission of India (CCI) and announced that it will legally challenge the order. Reuters news agency gave this news on Tuesday.

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On Monday, India’s competition watchdog restricted data exchange between WhatsApp and other meta-applications due to antitrust violations and imposed a fine of 213.14 million rupees (about 24 million euros). They criticize the terms of use and data protection guidelines updated in 2021, which require WhatsApp users to agree to expanded data sharing terms with other meta-companies to continue using the messenger app. Accordingly, WhatsApp took advantage of its dominant position to implement the Directive. CCI started investigating this case in March this year.

According to Reuters report A Meta spokesperson said Tuesday that the 2021 update does not change the privacy of users’ personal messages. “We have also ensured that this update will not result in the deletion of anyone’s account or loss of functionality of the WhatsApp service,” the spokesperson said. An appeal will be filed.

Problems regarding data security elsewhere too

This case is generating interest outside India also. Authorities – not just in India – fear that WhatsApp will gain undue control over user data and restrict consumer choice. In August 2021, the Irish data protection authority, the Data Protection Commission (DPC), imposed a record fine of €225 million against WhatsApp on the basis of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The DPC accused Messenger of lack of transparency while sharing data with Facebook. WhatsApp appealed against the decision, but failed in its case against the million-dollar fine before the EU court.

In addition to the million-dollar fine, the Indian Competition Authority has now ordered WhatsApp to stop giving user data to meta-companies for advertising purposes for five years. After this period, users should be given the opportunity to opt out of sharing data that is not related to the service. WhatsApp must also explain what data is shared with meta-companies, how it is used and what purposes it serves.

(AKN)