HT Digital,
New Delhi, April 26: WhatsApp, currently engaged in a legal dispute with the Indian government over IT rule compliance, has issued a threat to cease its operations in India if compelled to weaken its end-to-end encryption service.
The controversy is centred on India’s 2021 IT Rules, which demand that social media platforms reveal the origin of messages, thereby raising user privacy concerns.
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The rules also necessitate social media firms to designate local compliance officers and release monthly grievance redressal reports.
WhatsApp counters that adhering to these regulations would infringe on user privacy and contravene their fundamental rights.
The government defends these rules as essential to counter misinformation and hate speech, particularly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. WhatsApp, however, maintains that preserving end-to-end encryption is vital for user security.
