Regulators
Supreme Court to hear Meta-Whatsapp CCI penalty appeals
Rs 213 crore fine challenged over 2021 privacy policy, bench led by CJI Surya Kant takes up matter on 23 February 2026.
MUMBAI: Meta and Whatsapp are about to face the music in court because when privacy policies play loose, even billion-dollar apps can get a stern privacy lecture from the bench. The Supreme Court is set to dive into the high-stakes appeals filed by Meta Platforms and Whatsapp against a Competition Commission of India (CCI) order slapping them with a Rs 213.14 crore penalty. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, is expected to hear the matter, with an interim order likely on 23 February 2026.
The penalty stems from Whatsapp’s controversial 2021 privacy policy update, which expanded data-sharing with parent company Meta for commercial use sparking concerns over market dominance, user consent, and misuse of personal information. In earlier hearings on 3 February, the bench didn’t mince words: it questioned whether the companies were compromising citizens’ privacy rights under the guise of data practices, called many users “silent customers” digitally dependent and often unaware of how their data is leveraged, and made clear that constitutional privacy protections won’t be diluted.
The saga took a turn in November 2025 when the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) set aside part of the CCI order banning WhatsApp from sharing user data with Meta for advertising for five years. However, NCLAT upheld the Rs 213 crore fine and later clarified the ruling allowed data collection and sharing for both advertising and non-advertising purposes beyond WhatsApp’s core service. The CCI has filed a cross-appeal challenging that part of the NCLAT decision.
The Supreme Court has directed the ministry of electronics and information technology be impleaded as a party, signalling the case’s broader implications for digital regulation. With the appeals now before the top court, the proceedings sit at the tense crossroads of competition law, data privacy, and platform accountability in India’s fast-growing digital economy.
Whether the bench reins in cross-app data flows or upholds the status quo, this showdown could redraw the rules for how tech giants handle user information proving that in the privacy game, even the biggest players can’t always message their way out of a tough spot.
Regulators
India Post launches ‘24 Speed Post’ for next day delivery in six cities
New service promises faster parcels with tracking, OTP delivery
NEW DELHI: India Post is set to introduce a faster mail service with the launch of 24 Speed Post, promising next day guaranteed delivery for urgent consignments in six major cities.
The service will be launched on 17 March by Jyotiraditya Scindia, union minister of communications, along with Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, minister of state for communications, at an event in New Delhi.
In its first phase, the new service will operate across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, covering some of the country’s busiest commercial and logistics corridors.
The 24 Speed Post is designed for time sensitive shipments and offers assured next day delivery. It will be supported by dedicated processing windows and priority air transmission to ensure faster movement of parcels between cities.
Alongside this service, India Post will also offer 24 and 48 Speed Post options that guarantee delivery within one or two days respectively, giving businesses and individual users more flexibility depending on urgency.
The upgraded service comes with a host of technology driven features including OTP based secure delivery, end to end tracking with SMS alerts and a money back guarantee in case of delays.
Business customers will also have access to additional facilities such as buy now pay later billing, free pickup for bulk shipments, API integration and centralised billing systems.
With the launch, India Post aims to strengthen its premium express delivery offerings and compete more effectively in the fast growing logistics and quick delivery market.
