WhatsApp Tells Indian Government Privacy Is 'Highest Priority' 24241x Technology News

WhatsApp also said the government could take legal action against the company. 6d3e4v

By Reuters | Updated: 25 May 2021 10:01 IST

WhatsApp Tells Indian Government Privacy Is 'Highest Priority'

WhatsApp earlier this year said s would have to review its updated by February 8 3n484q

Highlights

India is WhatsApp's biggest market
More than 500 million people use its services
WhatsApp's new allows it to share data with Facebook

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Facebook-owned WhatsApp on Monday said that it had told the Indian government that the privacy of s was its highest priority after the country's technology ministry raised questions about the messaging app's new .

India's technology ministry asked WhatsApp in a May 18 letter to withdraw its updated , which came into effect on May 15, and also said the government could take legal action against the company.

"We have responded to the Government of India's letter and assured them that the privacy of s remains our highest priority," the company said in a statement on Monday. WhatsApp also said its update did not change the privacy of peoples' personal messages.

WhatsApp earlier this year said s would have to review its updated by February 8 but delayed the rollout of new business features to mid-May following a global backlash over the company's data-sharing practices.

"We will not limit the functionality of how WhatsApp works in the coming weeks. Instead, we will continue to remind s from time to time about the update," the WhatsApp statement said.

With more than 500 million people using its services, India is WhatsApp's biggest market and the company has big expansion plans in the country.

WhatsApp's new , which allows it to share limited data with Facebook and its group companies, has led to at least one legal battle in India, while the anti-trust regulator has also ordered an investigation.

© Thomson Reuters 2021

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