'All-or-nothing' approach of WhatsApp takes away any 'meaningful choice' - Centre shoots letter to CEO Will Cathcart

WhatsApp data privacy row: After WhatsApp asked its users to either give their consent to sharing data with Facebook or lose their accounts after February 8, the Indian government has responded by saying that ‘all-or-nothing’ approach of WhatsApp takes away any 'meaningful choice' from Indian users.

"The approach infringes on their interests in relation to informational privacy and information security," reports WION's Siddhant Sibbal, quoting the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.  

Meanwhile as per report by Sibal, the IT Ministry has sent a detailed questionnaire to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart over data privacy issues. The government has sought to know details about its data sharing protocols and business practices.

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The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has expressed strong concerns about the latest Terms of Service and Privacy Policy proposed by WhatsApp for Indian users.

The Indian government in a letter reminded WhatsApp to respect the privacy and data security of Indian users and asked it to withdraw the proposed Policy.

"All-or-nothing approach of WhatsApp takes away any 'meaningful choice from Indian users. The approach infringes on their interests in relation to informational privacy and information security," the letter read.  

Earlier the WhatsApp had courted controversy when it said it is being made mandatory for users to give in their consent of sharing data with Facebook or lose their accounts after February 8.
In a related development, a parliamentary standing committee on IT has summoned Facebook and Twitter officials on January 21. The parliamentary committee on IT was looking at the allegations of misuse of Facebook for political gains.

The issues of safeguarding citizens’ rights, preventing misuse of social media platforms and women security in the digital space is supposed to be discussed in the meeting.  

The official agenda of the meeting circulated to the member MPs stated: “Evidence of representatives of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and to hear the views of the representatives of Facebook and Twitter on the subject ‘Safeguarding citizens’ rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space.”

Earlier, after WhatsApp announced its new Terms and conditions, apparently Telegram and another encrypted messaging app Signal has seen a surge in new sign ins after Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk vouched for it, reported IANS.