India’s top court questions WhatsApp data sharing with Meta

India’s Supreme Court has warned it could reinstate restrictions on WhatsApp sharing user data with other Meta entities, raising fresh concerns over privacy and consent. During a hearing on Tuesday, the chief justice said WhatsApp’s privacy policy appeared to be designed in a way that could mislead users, particularly those with limited digital literacy.

The case stems from a 2024 ruling by India’s antitrust authority, which fined WhatsApp $25.4 million and barred data sharing for advertising purposes for five years. An appeals court later lifted the data-sharing ban while keeping the fine, prompting both sides to approach the Supreme Court.

India is Meta’s largest market by users, and WhatsApp has argued that restrictions could force it to roll back features. The Supreme Court did not issue a final decision and is expected to continue hearings next week.