WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy had sparked controversy because it made users aware, for the first time, about the extent of meta data it actually collects.

India’s competition watchdog has ordered WhatsApp to stop sharing user data with other Meta units for advertising purposes for five years and also levied a fine of $25.4 million for antitrust violations related to WhatsApp’s controversial 2021 privacy policy.

India's competition watchdog directed WhatsApp to refrain from sharing user data for advertising purposes with other applications owned by Meta for a period of five years and fined the U.S. tech giant $25.

Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is planning to contest a Rs 213.14-crore fine imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for alleged anti-competitive practices linked to WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy update, according to news agency PTI.

Meta has announced plans to legally challenge the Indian Competition Commission's order restricting data sharing between WhatsApp and other Meta apps. The ruling imposed a USD 25.4 mn fine, to prevent WhatsApp from sharing user data for advertising across Meta platforms for 5 years.

India's competition watchdog directed WhatsApp to refrain from sharing user data for advertising purposes with other applications owned by Meta for a period of five years and fined the U.S. tech giant $25.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of ₹213.14 crore (approximately USD 25.4 million) on Meta Platforms for abusing its dominant position through WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy