India’s top court warns Meta over WhatsApp data-sharing practices

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Regulation; 04 February 2026; 9616 views

India’s Supreme Court has warned Meta it could once again bar WhatsApp from sharing user data with other group companies such as Facebook, as the country revives a long-running dispute over privacy practices.

According to Reuters, India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant described WhatsApp’s privacy policy as “cleverly designed” to mislead users, arguing it would be difficult for digitally illiterate users, particularly in rural areas, to properly understand how their data is used.

The case carries weight for Meta given India is its largest market globally. Data from analyst firm DataReportal shows the company has around 403 million Facebook users and 481 million Instagram users in the country.

India’s top court and Meta have clashed before. In 2024, the company was fined US$25.4 million and WhatsApp was barred for five years from sharing user data with other Meta platforms for advertising purposes.

Meta has previously pushed back against such restrictions, warning they could slow the rollout of new features. The company has also faced scrutiny elsewhere, agreeing in 2023 to rewrite its privacy policy in the European Union to make it easier for users to understand.