Parliamentary panel members flag considerations over WhatsApp’s proposed new privateness coverage

Image Source : FILE/PTI Parliamentary panel members flag considerations over WhatsApp’s proposed new privateness coverage
Members of a parliamentary panel on Thursday flagged the difficulty of proposed modifications within the privateness coverage of WhatsApp and highlighted considerations of Indian residents, sources stated. WhatsApp representatives who appeared earlier than the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology stated the proposed modifications are aimed toward bringing in additional transparency and the chat and calls on platform nonetheless stay end-to-end encrypted, a few of the members stated.
Some different members who attended the assembly maintained that the corporate was “evasive” in its reply on the difficulty of the way it can herald modifications which aren’t conducive for Indian customers. “They had no reply,” stated a member.
The member additionally claimed that firm consultant agreed that knowledge was being monetised.
The committee interacted individually with representatives of Facebook, Twitter and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
After the assembly, a WhatsApp spokesperson stated in a press release, “We wish to thank the Honorable Parliamentary Committee for giving us an opportunity to appear before them and provide our views. We look forward to assisting the Hon’ble Committee in future as well.”

In a strongly-worded letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had earlier this week stated the proposed modifications to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, with out giving customers an choice to opt-out, “raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens”.
The letter famous that with over 400 million customers in India, the modifications may have a disproportionate affect on the nation’s residents.
WhatsApp had earlier this month begun asking its 2 billion customers worldwide to just accept an replace of its privateness coverage in the event that they need to maintain utilizing the favored messaging app. The new phrases triggered an outcry amongst expertise specialists, privateness advocates and customers and triggered a wave of defections to rival providers akin to Signal and Telegram.
In the up to date coverage, it received a proper to share knowledge it collected from WhatsApp customers with the broader Facebook community, which incorporates Instagram, no matter proudly owning any accounts or profiles there. Some companies, as per the brand new coverage, had been to make use of Facebook-owned servers to retailer messages.
This triggered an outcry no matter WhatsApp’s assertion that every one non-public messages between family and friends members stay end-to-end encrypted.
WhatsApp had on January 16 delayed the introduction of the brand new privateness coverage to May 15 after consumer backlash over sharing of consumer knowledge and knowledge with the dad or mum firm, Facebook Inc.
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