{"id":"aigc-v0-a271ca67-f8a7-5048-ba1b-6e6343266138","title":"Tech Giants Assure Supreme Court on Data Privacy Compliance Amid Legal Battle","description":"Meta and WhatsApp have pledged to adhere to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's directives regarding data privacy and consent safeguards for advertising data. This commitment comes as their legal challenges and the Competition Commission of India's cross-appeal continue.","timestamp":1772018774,"category":"technology","headline":"Tech Giants Assure Supreme Court on Data Privacy Compliance Amid Legal Battle","modifiedHeadline":"Meta, WhatsApp Pledge Data Privacy Compliance","subCategories":["scid_bfd77859"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"7b48871c-c993-4956-b43d-6f46f8e1b036","bundleTitle":"Today In India","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"383","fcSummary":"meta and whatsapp have assured the indian supreme court they’ll follow data privacy rules set by an appellate tribunal, amid ongoing legal challenges. this commitment addresses concerns over user data handling and extends protections to data used for advertising, under scrutiny by the competition commission of india. the court dismissed applications seeking a halt to the tribunal's order, while reserving broader legal issues. the case stems from a previous penalty of rs 213 crore levied on meta and whatsapp.","summary":"Meta, WhatsApp pledge data privacy compliance to India's Supreme Court amid ongoing legal challenges & CCI scrutiny. Report due March 16.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/science_and_technology/IN/en/feedpost-specials/aigc-v0-a271ca67-f8a7-5048-ba1b-6e6343266138?byte=true","sourceUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/science_and_technology/IN/en/feedpost-specials/aigc-v0-a271ca67-f8a7-5048-ba1b-6e6343266138?byte=true","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/YXDoySTh6f90.webp","content":"

\n Tech giants Meta and WhatsApp have committed to the Supreme Court to follow data privacy rules set by an appellate tribunal. This move comes amid ongoing legal challenges and concerns over user data handling.\n

Commitment to Privacy Safeguards

Meta Platforms Inc. and its subsidiary WhatsApp have conveyed to the Indian Supreme Court their intention to comply with the directives issued by the National

\n \n

Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). These directives, handed down in December of the previous year, pertain to extending data privacy and consent protections, specifically concerning data used for advertising purposes, to the purview of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). This assurance has been provided even as the tech companies continue their legal proceedings challenging these very mandates. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi heard the appeals lodged by the tech giants. The court's attention was also drawn to a cross-appeal filed by the CCI, which contests the NCLAT's decision allowing the ongoing use of user data for advertising activities.

\n\n

Legal Proceedings Unfold

During the Supreme Court hearing, senior counsel Kapil Sibal, representing WhatsApp, informed the bench that the companies had resolved to implement the NCLAT's directions by March 16th. In response, the court chose to dismiss applications that sought an immediate halt to the NCLAT's order. However, the court made it clear that broader legal issues raised in the main appeals remain open for future adjudication. The Chief Justice noted that these dismissal applications were primarily aimed at obtaining a stay on the NCLAT's judgment, which had endorsed directions from the CCI that compelled Meta to adhere to specific mandates from a December 15, 2025, NCLAT order. The court further clarified that the dismissal of these interim pleas would not prejudice the arguments presented in the main appeal, and the companies were instructed to submit a compliance report. Additionally, the court directed that the CCI be permitted to examine an affidavit submitted by the appellants concerning their privacy policy and to present its response on record.

\n\n

Past Criticisms and Penalties

The apex court's current proceedings are part of its review of appeals against a previous CCI order that levied a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on Meta and WhatsApp concerning WhatsApp's privacy policy. Earlier, on February 3rd, the court had expressed strong disapproval of the companies' practices, stating that they could not \"play with the right to privacy of citizens in the name of data sharing.\" The court had accused them of fostering a monopoly and engaging in the appropriation of customers' private information. Vehemently criticizing WhatsApp's privacy policy, the court referred to its users as \"silent customers,\" characterizing them as an unorganized segment, dependent on digital services, and often unaware of the implications of data-sharing agreements. The court emphatically declared its stance: \"We will not allow the rights of any citizen of this country to be damaged.\" This sentiment underscores the court's commitment to safeguarding individual privacy against corporate data practices.

\n\n

NCLAT's Clarified Stance

Previously, on November 4, 2025, the NCLAT had rescinded a portion of the CCI's order. This section had prohibited WhatsApp from sharing user data with Meta for advertising purposes for a period of five years. Despite this modification, the NCLAT chose to uphold the Rs 213-crore penalty imposed on the social media platform. Subsequently, the tribunal provided further clarification regarding its ruling. It was clarified that the tribunal's stipulations concerning privacy and consent safeguards would indeed apply to the collection and sharing of user data, not only for advertising but also for non-advertising purposes, and across all services beyond just WhatsApp. This clarification aimed to ensure comprehensive data protection for users across Meta's ecosystem.

\n","readDurationInMinutes":"7","author":{"name":"Feedpost Specials","logo":"https://glance-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/bubble/jpeg/d7fdd6b5-4bee-4287-ab8a-8958c18b6f7c.jpeg"},"ism":false,"analyticsResponses":[],"pointerSummary":["Meta & WhatsApp told the SC they’ll follow data privacy rules set by NCLAT.","The NCLAT ordered a Rs 213 crore penalty for data privacy policy violations.","The court will review broader legal issues; firms must submit a compliance report."],"tags":["Meta","WhatsApp","DataPrivacy","SupremeCourt","India","NCLAT","CCI","LegalBattle","PrivacySafeguards","UserConsent","AdvertisingData","KapilSibal","SuryaKant","JoymalyaBagchi","VipulMPancholi","Monopoly","DigitalRights","SilentCustomers","Penalty","Rs213Crore"],"redirectionEnabled":false,"consent":true}

Tech Giants Assure Supreme Court on Data Privacy Compliance Amid Legal Battle

SUMMARY