Catergory

WhatsApp

CCI

Analysis of the NCLAT order on Interim Application: Partial Relief, User Safeguards Unchanged

On 18 November 2024, the CCI imposed a ₹213.14 crore penalty on Meta and WhatsApp for anti-competitive practices related to their 2021 Privacy Policy. In response, they filed appeals before the NCLAT, seeking an interim stay on the order.
27 January, 2025
4 min read
Injila Muslim ZaidiInjila Muslim Zaidi
CCI

The Privacy-Antitrust Paradox? Analysing the CCI’s Penalty Order against Meta and WhatsApp.

On 18 November 2024, the CCI fined Meta and WhatsApp ₹213.14 crore for anti-competitive practices under their 2021 Privacy Policy. The order highlights Meta’s dominance, data-driven advantages, and the privacy-antitrust overlap. Meta has appealed to the NCLAT, challenging the CCI’s jurisdiction.
20 January, 2025
7 min read
Naman KumarNaman Kumar
Statement

Statement: CCI imposes landmark penalty of ₹213.14 crore on Meta for exploiting its dominant position through WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a landmark penalty of ₹213.14 crore (approximately $25.25 million) on Meta for exploiting its dominant position through WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy update. IFF submitted expert information as an informant before the CCI.
19 November, 2024
2 min read
Internet Freedom FoundationInternet Freedom Foundation
puttaswamy

Supreme Court directs WhatsApp to allow users to continue using WhatsApp without accepting its 2021 Privacy Policy

WhatsApp’s 2016 and 2021 privacy policy have been the subject of a long standing court challenge before the Delhi High Court. Today, the petition has been heard after 4 months.
01 February, 2023
5 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
Social Media

A round-up of WhatsApp’s failed attempts to block the Competition Commission’s investigation

In October 2021, IFF submitted expert information in the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) suo moto investigation into potential anti-competitive practices of WhatsApp Inc. (‘WhatsApp).
31 October, 2022
5 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
compliance

#SocialMediaComplianceWatch: analysis of Social Media Compliance Reports for the month of February 2022

> > > > tl;dr Google (including YouTube), Koo, Meta (Facebook and Instagram), ShareChat, Snap, Twitter and WhatsApp have released their reports in compliance with Rule 4(1)(d) of the IT Rules 2021 for the month of February, 2022. The latest of these was published by WhatsApp and was published on April 1, 2022. The reports contain similar shortcomings, which exhibit lack of effort on the part of the social media intermediaries and the government to further transparency and accountability in
16 April, 2022
11 min read
Anandita MishraAnandita Mishra
compliance

#SocialMediaComplianceWatch: analysis of Social Media Compliance Reports of October, 2021

Social Media platforms have released their reports for Oct 2021 in compliance with Rule 4(1)(d), IT Rules 2021. They continue to suffer from the same shortcomings, which exhibits lack of effort on the part of the SSMIs and the govt. to further transparency and accountability in platform governance.
21 January, 2022
9 min read
Anandita MishraAnandita Mishra
compliance

#SocialMediaComplianceWatch: analysis of Social Media Compliance Reports of September, 2021

SSMI reports in compliance with Rule 4(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 have been analysed for the month of September.
09 December, 2021
7 min read
Anandita MishraAnandita Mishra
compliance
Featured

#SocialMediaComplianceWatch: analysis of Social Media Compliance Reports of August, 2021

Google (including YouTube), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Twitter have released their reports in compliance with Rule 4(1)(d) of the IT Rules 2021 for the month of August.
25 October, 2021
7 min read
Anandita MishraAnandita Mishra
competition

Big Opportunity! CCI accepts IFF’s expert information in its investigation of WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy

IFF has submitted expert information before the DG of CCI in charge of the investigation into WhatsApp's Privacy Policy. We highlighted how WhatsApp has a dominant position in the market, and how the Privacy Policy abuses such dominant position. The CCI tagged the information with the investigation.
14 October, 2021
4 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh

Donate to IFF

Help IFF scale up by making a donation for digital rights. Really, when it comes to free speech online, digital privacy, net neutrality and innovation — we got your back!