Message traceability demand | WhatsApp says rules go against privacy policy

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The government is looking to ensure that messaging apps like WhatsApp comply with new rules for social media companies, which were notified last month, according to a report in The Economic Times.

But WhatsApp is not playing ball and has cited its privacy policy while opposing the new rules for social media, which include tracing the origin of contentious messages.

The Facebook-owned company has cited the violation of its privacy policy as the reason to oppose the demand. However, the government has maintained its stand by saying that the messaging apps do not have to break end to end encryption in order to provide what the government needs.

The government has clarified that the new rules are merely not to use the data fatuously. The metadata of the originator of the message will only be used in cases of crimes and extreme situations.

On the other hand, WhatsApp has yet not communicated its stand. The report stated that Whatsapp may look to abide by the rules in case breaking of end to end encryption not required.

Whatsapp chief Will Cathcart earlier in a podcast by US journalist Alex Kantrowitz had said that it will be difficult for the company to compromise with the privacy of its users and that he is still studying the new rules.

The messaging app has around 400 million users in India. The company is already occupied with several court cases on the traceability issue. In reference to the cases, Cathcart had said that the company is looking for a middle path in this issue.

Apart from India, the traceability demand has come from the UK government as well.