India's Data Protection Lag: WhatsApp Users Still Vulnerable
Despite repeated calls for action, India has yet to implement robust measures to safeguard Indian users' data on WhatsApp. While the government has taken steps to curb misinformation and strengthen oversight, specific protections for WhatsApp user data remain elusive.
In 2019, India's Minister of Electronics and Information Technology urged WhatsApp to enable message traceability to prevent misuse. However, this request has not yet been fully addressed. Recently, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court against WhatsApp's upcoming data policy changes, highlighting the ongoing concerns.
WhatsApp has taken some initiatives to tackle misinformation, such as limiting forward messaging to five chats in India. Yet, leading experts warn that millions of Indians' data is still constantly being misused due to the lack of a robust mechanism. The Indian government has not yet notified the draft intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules, further delaying potential solutions.
In 2018, WhatsApp faced criticism for failing to check the spread of fake and provocative content on its platform. Despite these issues, India has not yet implemented a strong personal data privacy law. The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, is still pending, leaving users vulnerable.
While India continues to strengthen its oversight of foreign platforms, specific, strong protections for WhatsApp user data are not yet in place. The government has asked WhatsApp to withdraw, not just defer, its recent data privacy policy change, indicating its seriousness about the issue. However, comprehensive legislation and enforcement frameworks are still needed to ensure the safety of Indian users' data on WhatsApp.
