The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre and WhatsApp over an appeal alleging the instant messaging service did not ensure the privacy of its users and seeking regulations to protect personal information.
Chief Justice J S Khehar granted urgent hearing when Harish Salve, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the service provided free by the platform to 155 million subscribers violated constitutional provisions protecting privacy.
The government and WhatsApp would file their replies within two weeks, the court directed after Salve sought its intervention to protect consumer data till India enacted data protection laws.
The Supreme Court heard the petition