Regulators
WhatsApp agrees to follow CCI data safeguards after Supreme Court hearing
Company assures compliance by 16 March, ending long privacy row
NEW DELHI: In a notable climbdown, WhatsApp and its parent company Meta have told the Supreme Court of India that they will comply with the data privacy safeguards ordered by the Competition Commission of India by 16 March 2026.
The assurance draws a curtain, at least for now, on the long-running dispute over WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy update that sparked outrage for its so-called take-it-or-leave-it approach to data sharing.
At the heart of the controversy was a simple question: should users be forced to share their data with other Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram in order to keep using WhatsApp? Regulators said no. WhatsApp has now agreed.
Under the revised framework, users will get meaningful consent options. They can opt in or opt out of sharing their data with Meta companies for purposes beyond running WhatsApp’s core services, including advertising. The company must also spell out, in plain terms, what data is being shared, with whom, and why.
Crucially, consent will not be a one-way street. Users will be able to withdraw it at any time. Access to WhatsApp cannot be tied to agreeing to share data for non-essential purposes. In short, no more bundled bargains.
The case has taken a winding legal route. In November 2024, the CCI fined Meta Rs 213.14 crore for abusing its market dominance and imposed a five-year ban on data sharing for advertising. A year later, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal upheld the fine but replaced the blanket ban with a regime centred on user consent safeguards, later clarifying that these apply to both advertising and non-advertising data.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court delivered a sharp rebuke, reportedly calling the mandatory data sharing a mockery of constitutionalism and likening it to a polite form of theft. Facing the risk of having their appeal dismissed, Meta and WhatsApp withdrew their plea for interim relief and agreed to implement the safeguards by mid-March.
For millions of Indian users, it is about control. The decision promises greater say over how personal data travels across the Meta ecosystem. For rivals in the digital advertising market, it is about fair play. The CCI had argued that WhatsApp’s vast user base gave Meta an edge that competitors could not match.
The broader backdrop is India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, still in the process of full implementation. This case sets an early benchmark for how global technology firms may be expected to handle user data in the country.
The main appeal challenging the legality of the 2021 policy and the Rs 213 crore fine is still pending before the Supreme Court. For now, however, WhatsApp has agreed to rewrite the rules of consent in India. Whether that marks a turning point or merely a pause in the battle remains to be seen.
Regulators
TRAI proposes more voice and SMS-only plans across all validity periods
Draft rules aim to widen affordable options as demand for basic packs rises
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has proposed fresh changes to telecom consumer rules, aiming to expand the availability of voice and SMS-only plans across different validity periods.
In its draft Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulation, 2026, the regulator has suggested that telecom operators must offer standalone voice and SMS vouchers for every validity period currently available under bundled plans that include data.
The move comes after TRAI observed that despite its earlier mandate in 2024 requiring at least one such plan, only a limited number of voice and SMS-only vouchers are currently being offered by service providers. At the same time, users and stakeholders have been calling for shorter-duration packs that cater to basic communication needs without bundling data.
Under the new proposal, operators will need to mirror their existing tariff structures. For every bundled plan with voice, SMS and data, a corresponding voice and SMS-only option must be made available, with tariffs reduced proportionately. The idea is simple: more choice, and potentially lighter bills for users who do not need data-heavy packs.
The regulator has opened the draft for public consultation and invited comments from stakeholders by April 28. Submissions can be sent to Vijay Kumar, advisor financial and economic analysis at TRAI.
The proposal reflects a broader shift towards fine-tuning telecom offerings to match evolving consumer behaviour, especially among users seeking no-frills plans. If implemented, the changes could nudge telecom companies to rebalance their pricing strategies while giving consumers a clearer, more flexible set of choices.
