NEW DELHI, Jan 16: The Supreme Court today decided to hear a plea seeking Central Government’s regulation of online messaging services, Whatsapp.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, issued notice to the Union Government, TRAI, Whatsapp, Facebook and sought seeks their replies within two weeks.
The Apex Court also asked the Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohtagi to assist the court on privacy issue with respect to whatsapp. The petitioner, Karmanya Singh Sareen, had told the Apex Court bench that under new privacy policy Whatsapp can share user info, data with parent Facebook.
As a result of which, the right to privacy was jeopardised under Whatsapp new privacy policy. The Central government should work to protect the privacy rights of citizens.
Whatsapp is a public utility, with over 155 million users. The Supreme Court said, Whatsapp is a private service with private rules, take it or leave it. In telecom, there is a payment made by users, no such payment in WhatsApp.
Users were made aware, when the rules were changed. (UNI)