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
India Post & DTDC sign MoU to boost logistics reach across India
Partnership taps 1.64 lakh post offices to speed up e-commerce deliveries
NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at strengthening India’s fast-growing logistics and e-commerce ecosystem, the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications has signed a memorandum of understanding with DTDC Express Limited to enhance parcel delivery capabilities across the country.
The agreement was formalised in New Delhi by Department of Posts general manager parcel directorate Neeraj Kumar Jha and DTDC Express Limited ceo Abhishek Chakraborty, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
At its core, the partnership looks to combine India Post’s extensive nationwide network with DTDC’s operational expertise in logistics. The collaboration will allow DTDC to tap into more than 1.64 lakh post offices, significantly widening its reach, particularly in remote and underserved regions.
The MoU builds on an existing association that began in 2025 and focuses on expanding joint logistics operations, sharing capacity, and aligning best practices across the parcel ecosystem. Both organisations will also coordinate marketing strategies and hold quarterly review meetings to track progress and identify new growth opportunities.
For DTDC, the tie-up offers scale and deeper market penetration, helping it meet rising demand driven by e-commerce. For India Post, the partnership is expected to strengthen its parcel business, improve delivery timelines, and reinforce its role in the country’s logistics value chain.
The inclusion of services such as cash on delivery is also set to make the collaboration more relevant for online sellers and consumers alike, especially in regions where digital payment adoption is still evolving.
As India pushes towards becoming a global logistics hub, this public-private partnership signals a practical step forward, blending legacy infrastructure with modern delivery capabilities to keep pace with the country’s e-commerce boom.
