NEW DELHI (Reuters) - WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy verges on user surveillance and threatens India’s security, a petition filed in an Indian court said on Thursday, presenting another legal challenge for the Facebook Inc-owned messenger.
California-based WhatsApp said on Jan. 4 it reserved the right to share some data including location and phone number with Facebook and its units such as Instagram and Messenger.
That triggered outrage, including in its biggest market India where it has 400 million users.
The change has also met with a challenge in Turkey with the country’s Competition Board this week launching an investigation into the messaging service and its parent.
In India, many users have began installing rival apps like Signal and Telegram, pushing WhatsApp to begin a costly advertising campaign to calm customers.
“It virtually gives a 360-degree profile into a person’s online activity,” lawyer Chaitanya Rohilla said of Whatsapp’s new policy in the petition to the Delhi High Court.
A copy of the petition, seen by Reuters, said Whatsapp was jeopardizing national security by sharing, transmitting and storing user data in another country with the information thus governed by foreign laws.
“WhatsApp has made a mockery out of our fundamental right to privacy,” it said.
WhatsApp has given users a Feb. 8 deadline to agree to the new terms.
“This type of arbitrary behaviour and browbeating cannot be accepted in a democracy and is completely ‘ultra vires’ (beyond its powers) and against the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution of India,” the petition added.
It will be heard by the Delhi High Court on Friday.
WhatsApp did not respond to a request for comment. It has previously said the policy update does not affect privacy of messages with friends and family, as group chats are encrypted and the changes only relate to interactions with businesses.
TAXI LEAKS EXTEA BIT : Other news from today.
It was announced earlier that Terminus Place has finally returned to two way and you can now exit Victoria Station into Wilton Place again..... finally
Unconfirmed reports just in that ex TfL Managing Director of Surface Transport Leon Daniels, is to join a Private Hire OnLine App Ola
Let’s not forget:
(TfL) refused to grant Ola a new operator's licence after finding a number of failures that could have risked public safety, a decision that the Indian ride hailing company may appeal.
The transport regulator, in a statement, said it had refused to grant Ola a new London private hire vehicle (PHV) operator's licence as it did not find it fit and proper to hold one, after discovering a number of failures that could have risked public safety.
But, we’ve heard that before with Uber. Now with Daniels on board, it’s a dot on the card to get a PH operators licence sooner than later.
Also today... we’ve been told (not by TfL who have still remained silent) that the NSL inspection Centre which was closed due to an outbreak of Covid virus amongst inspection staff, will now re-open on Monday 18/01/2021.
As far as we know, TfL have not informed any of the drivers who’s vehicles were inspected by infected staff at NSL.
If you were one of the drivers who had your cab plated at NSL Staples Corner last week, it may be advisable to seek out a Covid test.
This would not have happened had TfL closed the passing stations and given 6 months extensions across the board, as they did with the first lockdown.
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