Worried users free to delete Whatsapp: HC
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Monday remarked that Whatsapp is a private application and in case anyone has a problem with its new privacy policy, then he or she can simply remove it from their phones. It also told the petitioner, a lawyer, that not only Whatsapp (owned by Facebook) but all applications collect user information.
“It is a private app. Don’t join it. It is a voluntary thing, don’t accept it. Use some other app,” justice Sanjeev Sachdeva told the petitioner, advocate Chirag Rohilla, who, through his lawyer Manohar Lal challenged Whatsapp’s updated privacy policy.
Justice Sachdeva also refused to issue notice on the plea stating that “even Google maps captures all your data and stores it”. The judge said that he would hear the plea on January 25. “I can’t understand your concern. If you feel Whatsapp will compromise data, delete it,” the judge said .
The hearing was marked by an interesting exchange. When senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said he was appearing for Whatsapp, senior advocate Kapil Sibal pointed out that he was appearing for Whatsapp and Rohatgi for Facebook. At that point, justice Sachdeva said the two lawyers needed to share data with each other on who was appearing for whom.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Monday remarked that Whatsapp is a private application and in case anyone has a problem with its new privacy policy, then he or she can simply remove it from their phones. It also told the petitioner, a lawyer, that not only Whatsapp (owned by Facebook) but all applications collect user information.
“It is a private app. Don’t join it. It is a voluntary thing, don’t accept it. Use some other app,” Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva said to the petitioner, advocate Chirag Rohilla, who, through his lawyer, Manohar Lal challenged Whatsapp’s new privacy policy. Justice Sachdeva also refused to issue notice on the plea stating that “even Google maps captures all your data and stores it”. The judge said that he would hear the plea on January 25 adjourning it due to paucity of time.
The court also noted that the policy has been deferred till May after the backlash. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Whatsapp, said users don’t have to message with businesses if they don’t want to. He said that the petition is not maintainable.
The hearing was marked by an interesting exchange. When Rohatgi said he was appearing for Whatsapp, Sibal pointed out that he was appearing for Whatsapp and Rohatgi for Facebook. At which point Justice Sachdeva said the two lawyers needed to share data with each other on who was appearing for who.
Appearing for the petitioner, Lal urged the court that Whatsapp be asked to state its stand on the issues raised in the petition. He said that he had also written to the Centre. He said that a law should be brought in place to control such apps.
“I can’t understand your concern. If you feel Whatsapp will compromise data, delete it,” the judge said.
Senior advocate Mukul
Rohatgi for the respondent told the court that the policy remains the same as it was for private persons from the last five years. He also said that the policy has been updated only with respect to business accounts, adding that private chats would continue to remain end to end encrypted. “Private chats are completely encrypted. The change is for business Whatsapp. All social chats between friends, relatives, whatever is completely encrypted,” he said.
The plea contends that updated policy virtually scrutinizes the personal profile of a user by 360 degree violating the Right to Privacy of an individual.