India fines Meta $25.4 million over WhatsApp data sharing

India’s Competition Commission (CCI) has fined Meta Platforms $25.4 million and restricted the company from sharing data between WhatsApp and its other apps for advertising purposes, according to a recent report by Reuters. The five-year ban and penalty come after an investigation into WhatsApp’s controversial 2021 privacy policy.  
The CCI’s order, issued on Monday, states that WhatsApp users in India cannot be forced to share their data with other Meta-owned platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram, as a condition for using the service.  
The investigation into WhatsApp’s policy began in March 2021, focusing on its potential to violate India’s antitrust laws. Meta, in response, argued that the update did not compromise the privacy of personal messages and assured users that no accounts would be deleted or lose functionality because of the policy change.
This ruling is part of India’s wider push to regulate tech giants like Meta, Apple, and Google more closely, says Reuters. India is also considering new laws to strengthen its antitrust rules, which could further impact global tech companies. 
Meta plans to appeal the decision, continuing its challenge to India’s regulatory actions in one of its biggest markets, adds the report.