'Need Info Only for Very Serious Offenses': India's Strong Reaction to WhatsApp's Lawsuit

 'Need Info Only for Very Serious Offenses': India's Strong Reaction to WhatsApp's Lawsuit







The Union Ministry of Information and Technology said in a strongly worded response to WhatsApp, which has decided to take the country's social media policies to court, that India respects the "right to privacy of every citizen" and has no intention of violating it. In a statement, the IT ministry described WhatsApp's last-minute challenge to the intermediary guidelines as an unfortunate attempt to circumvent the rules.

“Any operations carried out in India are subject to Indian law. WhatsApp's refusal to comply with the guidelines is a clear act of defiance of a measure whose intent is undeniably clear," the ministry added.


The Government added that the attempt by WhatsApp to portray India's intermediary guidelines as contrary to the privacy right is "disguised" "There was an error. "In India, contrary to reasonable restrictions, privcy is an essential right. An example of that limitation is Rule 4(2) (to trace the originator first), "He said it.


The Center has clarified that the source of a message must be revealed by WhatsApp only if such a message is required to prevent/investigate punishment for a very serious crime related to the Indian state's supremacy and dignity.


It also states that information on messages may be necessary when securing foreign states that India's relations with or "public order, or offences related to or in relation to rape, sexually-explicit materials or child sexual abuse material" are concerned. The report also states that the information on the information may be required.


"Whatever India wants is significantly less than what some other countries have demanded," he added. The United Kingdom, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada demand legal interception from the social media firms.


Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of the Union, said that the Indien government recognises that the right to privacy is a basic and committed right for all of its citizens to do the same. He added that it is the government's responsibility to uphold law and order and ensure national security.


The Minister of WhatsApp said that neither of the measures proposed by India will have any impact whatsoever on the normal workings of the communication platform and that it will not also have an impact for the common user.


Furthermore, the IT Ministry said that there is no absolute fundamental rights and privacy law, which are subject to reasonable constraints.


The creator may only be traced in the event that other remedies prove ineffective, thus constituting a last resort measure, as provided under the Intermediate Guidelines. In addition, this information can only be sought in accordance with a legal process, with adequate legal safeguards.

WhatsApp file a lawsuit with the Delhi High Court challenging the government's new digital rules, argues that the company's requirement to access encrypted messages breaks privacy safeguards. The Center's response



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