In a strong communication sent to Union Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has reiterated that WhatsApp must be restricted from implementing it’s new privacy policy & a technical audit of WhatsApp, Facebook & Instagram must be conducted immediately.
Confederation of All India Traders
“Vyapur Bhawan”
925/1, Naiwala, karol Bagh,New Delhi-110005.
Phone: +91-11-45099884, Telefax:+91-11-45032665
Email: [email protected] Website: www.cait.in
Date: 15th January, 2021
Ref.No. : 3138/1/50
Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad
Hon’ble Minister for IT & Communication Government of India
New Delhi
Dear Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad
Subject : Action against WhatsApp for its new Privacy Policy
In continuation of our earlier dated 10th January,2021 on the subj. cited above , we are constrained to bring to your kind notice that recently WhatsApp has issued some media advertisements trying to hold its privacy policy justified which is nothing but a hogwash. We are firm on our stand that WhatsApp, Facebook & it, outfit Instagram are guilty in severe breach of privacy and destroying the trust of more than 400 million users in India which are owned by one single parent company who have left no stone unturned in compromising the security, privacy, independence and integrity of the whole nation by sharing user information amongst each other and selling to third parties. In their eagerness to obtain more maximum data of people, WhatsApp is all set to launch new privacy policy from 8th February and is obtaining forcible consent of users which is unconstitutional, violation of law and poses a threat to national security.
We request you that as a first instance, the Government should direct Whatsapp not to implement its proposed privacy policy from 8th February,2021 and a thorough Investigation should immediately be conducted against WhatsApp, Face-book and Instagram. Further, a technical Audit of these three social media platforms should also be conducted immediately and it should be ascertained whether the data which has been accrued so far by them is stored in India or transferred to some other Country
The WhatsApp has encroached upon fundamental rights of citizen “by updating its new user policy, WhatsApp has not only challenged the very fundamentals of the right to privacy of an individual, it has made every citizen vulnerable and susceptible to the whims and fancies of the unscrupulous digital companies out to infringe on a person’s existence. The proposed new policy is a potential hammer on Right to Freedom of Liberty & Life as also Right to Freedom of Speech & Expression
It, a peculiar situation where foreign entities operating in different verticals of Indian economy are obtaining data of the people of India in a very clandestine manner not for doing charity in India but to make huge capital by transferring that data in other Countries. Same thing is happening in e-commerce also and in absence of any policy or Regulatory Authorities, these MNCs find it easy to dodge laws of the land in India. The business community under the flag of CAIT is all set to foil this sinister game of MNCs at any cost and will ensure that either they comply with the relevant Laws and Rules or else leave India.
It is further to add that when WhatsApp was launched in the year 2009 they swore by their high standards of privacy and assured by saying So first of all, Let’s set the records straight. We have not, we do not and we will not ever sell your personal information to anyone. Period,. leads to a pertinent question: What happened to this high standard and moral ground now? After gaining trust of people they have forgotten everything and in broad daylight annihilating the faith and confidence reposed by millions of users. After failing in its attempt in European Union to continue this policy, Facebook has now made India as a new target.. 2017, for the same policy which WhatsApp proposed to began on 8th February in India, the Facebook earned fire from European Union Antitrust Authority which not only imposed restrictions on Facebook but also levied a fine of 110 million dollars in 2017 which shows that these MNCs are habitual offenders for exploitation of sovereign wealth of the Country where they are conducting business activities, by legal or illegal means. It’s a case of daylight robbery of data in India and we are quite hopeful that you will be India in accepting our humble submission made as above.
We look forward to your valued response.
Thank you. With kind regards
Truly Yours
Praveen Khandelwal
National Secretary General
Confederation of All India Traders
