WhatsApp wins temporary relief in India data sharing case

An Indian court has temporarily suspended a ban on data sharing between WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta. The ban, imposed by India’s competition regulator last year, had restricted WhatsApp from sharing user data with other Meta platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, for advertising purposes.

Meta had argued that this restriction would severely impact its business model and potentially force it to roll back features. The court acknowledged the potential harm to WhatsApp’s business and agreed to suspend the ban while it continues to hear Meta’s appeal.

India is a crucial market for Meta, with hundreds of millions of users across its platforms. The company had warned that the data sharing restrictions would prevent businesses from effectively targeting ads to relevant audiences, hindering their ability to grow and reach customers. The court’s decision provides a temporary reprieve for Meta while the legal battle continues.

The Indian competition regulator had argued that WhatsApp’s data sharing practices were anti-competitive and unfairly benefited Meta. However, Meta maintained that the data sharing was necessary for providing a seamless user experience and offering valuable services to businesses. The court’s decision highlights the ongoing debate surrounding data privacy and the use of user data for targeted advertising.