Facebook’s Alternative To Absolute WhatsApp Traceability Rejected By Govt

Facebook’s Alternative To Absolute WhatsApp Traceability Rejected By Govt

SUMMARY

WhatsApp offered limited traceability of lawfully identified users

The government officials have rejected the alternative, demanding absolute traceability

The meeting was held between Amit Shah, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Facebook representatives

The tug of war between the Indian government and Facebook-owned WhatsApp over traceability refuses to end. In a meeting held last week, Facebook representative had given government officials an alternative to absolute traceability of messages. However, the government has refused to budge.

The meeting was held to discuss the global tech giant’s stance on the instant messaging app’s traceability issue with home minister Amit Shah, national security advisor Ajit Doval and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on September 12.

Facebook’s vice president of global affairs and communication Nick Clegg had suggested the use of metadata and machine intelligence to deal with issues. Under metadata, Facebook offered basic details such as call duration among others, of “lawfully” identified the user.

The VP even offered to harness WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook linkages to help law enforcement agencies. However, Facebook maintained that it cannot share chat details because of the encryption and privacy of users.

The Whatsapp Traceability Saga

With 400 Mn monthly active users, India is the largest market for WhatsApp. Statistically, 4 out of 5 smartphone users are using the instant messaging app. With zero to minimum censorship on the platform, it has been used to spread fake news and misinformation, leading to mob lynchings and other internal security issues in India.

The WhatsApp traceability issue and linking of Aadhar with social media platforms is currently being heard in the Supreme Court. The original petition was filed in the Madras High Court (HC) in July last year, demanding linking of social media platform with Aadhar. The Madras HC had expanded the ambit of the case to include tracing the origin of “objectionable” messages on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp had refused to give in because chats are end-to-end encrypted and it would hamper the privacy of the users. The instant messaging app has also maintained that they will have to change the fundamentals of the app to include these changes.

In the current meeting, Facebook representatives were trying to reach a middle ground with the government. A Facebook spokesperson told ET that the Clegg’s attempts are a way to ensure the safety of Indian users, while maintaining the privacy of WhatsApp users.

You have reached your limit of free stories
Become An Inc42 Plus Member

Become a Startup Insider in 2024 with Inc42 Plus. Join our exclusive community of 10,000+ founders, investors & operators and stay ahead in India’s startup & business economy.

2 YEAR PLAN
₹19999
₹7999
₹333/Month
Unlock 60% OFF
Cancel Anytime
1 YEAR PLAN
₹9999
₹4999
₹416/Month
Unlock 50% OFF
Cancel Anytime
Already A Member?
Discover Startups & Business Models

Unleash your potential by exploring unlimited articles, trackers, and playbooks. Identify the hottest startup deals, supercharge your innovation projects, and stay updated with expert curation.

Facebook’s Alternative To Absolute WhatsApp Traceability Rejected By Govt-Inc42 Media
How-To’s on Starting & Scaling Up

Empower yourself with comprehensive playbooks, expert analysis, and invaluable insights. Learn to validate ideas, acquire customers, secure funding, and navigate the journey to startup success.

Facebook’s Alternative To Absolute WhatsApp Traceability Rejected By Govt-Inc42 Media
Identify Trends & New Markets

Access 75+ in-depth reports on frontier industries. Gain exclusive market intelligence, understand market landscapes, and decode emerging trends to make informed decisions.

Facebook’s Alternative To Absolute WhatsApp Traceability Rejected By Govt-Inc42 Media
Track & Decode the Investment Landscape

Stay ahead with startup and funding trackers. Analyse investment strategies, profile successful investors, and keep track of upcoming funds, accelerators, and more.

Facebook’s Alternative To Absolute WhatsApp Traceability Rejected By Govt-Inc42 Media
Facebook’s Alternative To Absolute WhatsApp Traceability Rejected By Govt-Inc42 Media
You’re in Good company