A Public Interest Litigation or PIL has been filed by one Omanakuttan KG before the Kerala High Court, asking the Central Government to ban the nation¡¯s popular messaging platform, WhatsApp, if it doesn¡¯t comply with orders issued by the Indian government, according to a report by Bar & Bench.
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A software engineer by profession, Omanakuttan KG decided to file the PIL after WhatsApp filed a suit against MeitY¡¯s updated intermediary rules for asking the messenger to breach end-to-end encryption of its texting platform and put user privacy in danger.
However, Omanakuttan KG claims that WhatsApp¡¯s privacy policy states that it would store messages sent by users in some situations and access their contacts and information. Moreover, he also alleged that the texting platform isn¡¯t the most secure and any media file sent through the app can be easily manipulated, by any layman.?
Along with this, the petitioner also stated that the app was being used by anti-national and anti-social elements, including fake news and images are often shared on the messaging platform that causes disharmony among the citizens of the nation.?
Citing examples, he mentioned how fake news and helpline numbers were circulated during the Kerala floods of 2018, confusing many who were in dire need of help. He however mentioned that due to the end to end encryption on the texting platform, one cannot trace the originator of the fake news.?
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He also went on to say that WhatsApp has different privacy policies for the European Union and India, (compliance with the GDPR) and it complies with the laws in the EU, so why can¡¯t it comply with laws of our nation, specifically the new IT rules.?
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The petition requested the court that it should direct the Central government to issue a ban on WhatsApp in the nation if it doesn't comply with the rules of the land and authorities.?
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