Blanket Ban on WhatsApp–Meta Data Sharing: Legal, Constitutional, and Competition Law Implications in India
I. Background: WhatsApp’s Submissions Before the Supreme Court WhatsApp recently informed the Supreme Court of India that it does not read private messages, sell user data, or use encrypted chats for targeted advertisements , reaffirming its commitment to end-to-end encryption. However, it strongly opposed a blanket prohibition on data sharing with its parent company, Meta Platforms , arguing that such a restriction would harm user choice, disrupt legitimate business operations, and negatively impact small Indian enterprises that rely on digital advertising. The matter is being heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymala Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi , in appeals filed by WhatsApp, Meta, and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against a National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) ruling dated November 4, 2025 , which upheld a penalty of ₹213.14 crore on WhatsApp for abuse of dominance under competition law. II. Regulatory Background: C...