Supreme Court notice to Centre on social media privacy

New Delhi: The Supreme Court issued a notice on Monday to the Centre and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on a petition seeking a direction to frame a policy to protect the privacy of content and regulate the commercial exploitation of private communication through social networking sites like WhatsApp and Facebook.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud sought a response in two weeks. Appearing for two law students, senior counsel Harish Salve submitted that the privacy of citizens has been infringed by WhatsApp and Facebook, which amounted to infringement of Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. He said the social networking sites compromised the privacy of interpersonal communication of over 150 million people in the country, and there should be some regulation. The CJI pointed out that since it is free, you take it or leave it. The court, however, agreed to examine the issue.

The court asked WhatsApp to completely delete all data of users who choose to opt out of the messaging app after the coming into force of its new privacy policy. The high court also said that WhatsApp will delete users’ data up to September 25, 2016, even of those who chose not to opt out of the instant messaging app and agree with the new privacy policy.