India's Competition Commission (CCI) has banned WhatsApp from sharing user data with other Meta-owned platforms for advertising for the next five years.
The commission fined Meta $25.4 million for violating antitrust laws tied to WhatsApp's controversial 2021 privacy policy.
The 2021 policy update sparked global criticism as it allowed WhatsApp to share user data with Meta subsidiaries like Facebook. The CCI initiated an investigation in March 2021, citing concerns over potential abuse of market dominance.
The CCI ruled that users should not be forced to agree to data sharing beyond the scope of WhatsApp’s core services.
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"Access to WhatsApp in India cannot be conditioned on user consent to share data with other Meta platforms for unrelated purposes," the watchdog stated.
Meta has yet to respond to these developments, as reported by Reuters.
This action is part of a broader effort to regulate Big Tech in India. The government is also reviewing recommendations for a "Digital Competition Bill," a proposed legislation inspired by EU antitrust frameworks. The bill complements existing regulations and aims to curb monopolistic practices in the digital economy.
However, opposition to the proposal has emerged. The U.S.-India Business Council, a key lobbying group, expressed concerns about its potential impact on international businesses.
As India tightens its grip on tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta, companies face mounting challenges adapting to stricter regulatory landscapes.
