Indian IT Rules 2021
In 2021, the Indian government unveiled a new set of rules for online platforms. Under the Indian IT Rules 2021, users are prohibited from creating, uploading or sharing content that threatens the unity of India. This act gives the government the right to remove any content that is harmful or unlawful from any online platform.
WhatsApp user privacy
WhatsApp stands apart with its steadfast and End-to-End encrypted conversation. End-to-End encryption means the message sent from the receiver phone is secured through a signal encryption protocol and sent, even WhatsApp cannot see our messages. When we send a message, the messages get encrypted while they are being delivered and WhatsApp Servers deletes the message once the message is delivered. The messages are locally saved on our device.
WhatsApp issue with the Indian IT Rules 2021
The Indian IT Rules 2021 gives the Indian government access to information on online platforms. The government insists on tracing the origin of the information to combat fake messages, access to these messages in WhatsApp would empower authorities to swiftly address harmful content circulating on social media platforms. As messages in WhatsApp are End-to-End encrypted, even WhatsApp cannot see the messages.
The Indian government is asking WhatsApp to break the End-to-End encryption protocol so that the government have access to the harmful content circulating on WhatsApp. Also, WhatsApp has to store the messages in the WhatsApp servers to show the message to the government.
Breaking End-to-End encrypted protocol and storing the messages in WhatsApp servers would put the privacy of users at risk.
WhatsApp had its hearing in the Delhi High Court on 25th April 2024 against the Indian IT Rules 2024. WhatsApp's counsel said that people use WhatsApp only because of its encryption and privacy. WhatsApp says that it cannot break the trust of the people. WhatsApp Company (Meta) lawyer says that if WhatsApp had to break the End-to-End encryption, then WhatsApp would leave India.
The next hearing for the Delhi High Court challenging the 2021 IT Rules that WhatsApp and Meta files is scheduled on 14th August 2024.