WhatsApp has always been in the news since it launched in India. For various reasons, especially with user’s data security, the Indian IT ministry has concerns regarding its operational policies.
Though, the messaging app is loved by Indian users and that’s why it has around 535 million users in India. Shutting down WhatsApp in India could be a big task seeing its growing popularity in the developing nation as well as exceptional revenue generation.
Moreover, let’s took a glance at What is WhatsApp, and the new surrounding around it in this article-
What is WhatsApp?
Started as an alternative to SMS, WhatsApp is an encrypted personal and commercial text and voice messaging app. Its features also include sending images, videos, documents, and location. With a strong internet connection, you can always remain connected with your family and friends across the world.
Its USP has been message encryption, but nowadays, the strength seems to be turning into controversy, chiefly in India. A recent news spread about its shutdown in India, where the IT Minister of India had clarified about the entire status of the news. Checkout what he said in the parliament.
IT Minister’s Statement in the Parliament-
Ashwini Vaishnaw, the IT Minister of India stated in the parliament that neither Meta nor WhatsApp has informed the Indian government about shutting down their services in the country. His statement came in response to a question raised by an opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, the IT Minister of India, stated, “[The] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has shared that WhatsApp or Meta has not informed the government about any such plans,”. It was a written reply to the question of Congress member Vivek Tankha, as per PTI report on Friday (July 26).
What did Vivek Tankha Ask?
Tankha has asked the IT ministry about WhatsApp’s shutting down plans in India due to the directives of the government to share the details of the users by the government directions under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
In response to Tankha’s question, the IT Minister said the central government of India issued directions in the integrity or sovereignty of the country, friendly relations with foreign countries or public order or defence of India, security of the state or preventing the persuasion to the commission of any cognisable offence relating to above regarding information on a computer resource.
Earlier this year, WhatsApp informed the Delhi High Court that the company will cease its operations in the country if it is forced by the government to break message’s encryption.
“People use WhatsApp because…”
Earlier, WhatsApp contested the government’s latest amended IT rules saying the messaging app violated the right to privacy and was against the constitutional laws. In reply WhatsApp notified the Delhi High Court that its encryption policy safeguards user privacy by ascertaining only sender and recipient can access message content.
Tejas Karia, appearing for WhatsApp, told a Division Bench, said, “As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes,”. He added that people in India use WhatsApp because of the privacy it brings to them.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a virtual address at Meta’s annual event last year, “India (is) a country that’s at the forefront… You’re leading the world in terms of how people and businesses have embraced messaging,”
Conclusion-
The IT Minister stated that the IT ministry has not yet been informed about the shutting of WhatsApp’s operations in India. It was said in reply to the question of a Congress Member, Vivek Tankhs in Rajya Sabha. WhatsApp has also contested newly amended IT rules of the government and told the Delhi High Court that its encryption policy protects user privacy.
