WhatsApp’s lawyer stated that the platform’s messages are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring privacy for users, with content untraceable by any party except the sender and receiver, a key reason for users’ preference.
WhatsApp LLC informed the Delhi High Court that the messaging platform would cease to exist if compelled to decrypt messages, stated counsel Tejas Karia representing WhatsApp before a Division Bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora.
Its end-to-end encrypted chats ensure user security, but the messaging app cautions it will halt operations in India if compelled to dismantle chat encryption soon. This disclosure was made to the Delhi High Court this week as WhatsApp contends to maintain user security through its celebrated end-to-end encryption for chats, calls, videos, and beyond.
Tejas Karia, appointed by the Meta-owned platform, expressed the company’s stance on encryption decryption, asserting a potential exit from the country instead of adhering to such laws. He highlighted that millions rely on it due to its secure features. With approximately 400 million active users, the messaging app also boasts the UPI payment feature in the country.
Meta and WhatsApp fervently hope to avoid halting their messaging service in the country. They quietly anticipate that such warnings will bolster their case, averting the necessity to compromise message encryption.
WhatsApp’s Privacy Battle with Indian Government (Delhi High Court )
The Indian government insists that its and similar messaging apps must enable message tracing under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. However, this is unfeasible due to encrypted chats with inaccessible keys, even for WhatsApp.
The Meta-owned platform contests the IT Rules, contending that decrypting violates users’ privacy rights under the Indian Constitution. The government contends that privacy rights are not absolute and seeks a balance, including decrypting chats.
It has encountered analogous requests in various nations but remains steadfast in adhering to its policies and conviction that messages should and will remain secure indefinitely. Indeed, security is a primary factor behind WhatsApp’s widespread popularity, leading Meta to acquire it for over $15 billion more than a decade ago.
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