Meta slapped with ₹2310000000 fine, forced to change WhatsApp’s…
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has delivered a significant blow to Meta, imposing a hefty fine of Rs. 231 crore for anti-competitive practices related to WhatsApp's data-sharing policy. In addition to the financial penalty, this ruling signals major changes to WhatsApp for its users in India, who will soon experience a revamped interface designed to give them more control over their data.
WhatsApp, which has over 500 million users in India, will be required to implement new privacy features. These changes will introduce more prominent in-app notifications, allowing users to easily opt out of sharing their data with Meta's other platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Furthermore, WhatsApp will add a new tab in its settings, where users can review and modify their data-sharing preferences, ensuring greater transparency and control.
Also read: Google's search dominance at risk: May be forced to sell Chrome, split Android from Search, says report
This fine stems from Meta's controversial handling of WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy, which forced users to share their data with Facebook to continue using the messaging service. The CCI found this "take-it-or-leave-it" approach to be unfair and in violation of the Competition Act, 2002, particularly due to WhatsApp's dominant position in the Indian market.
The penalty of Rs. 213.14 crore imposed on Meta reflects concerns that WhatsApp abused its market power. The regulator also issued cease-and-desist orders, demanding that Meta and WhatsApp take corrective measures within a set timeline. In addition, the CCI directed Meta to implement a series of behavioural remedies, primarily focused on curbing anti-competitive practices related to the use of user data for advertising purposes.
Also read: IndiGo flyers get 4 month free Spotify Premium: Exclusive music offer for bookings until 2025
WhatsApp's data-sharing practices were also found to create barriers for potential competitors in the messaging and
Read more on tech.hindustantimes.com
