NCLAT Stays CCI Ban on WhatsApp-Meta Data Sharing
By Rediff Money Desk, New Delhi Jan 23, 2025 14:31
The NCLAT has stayed the CCI's ban on WhatsApp and Meta sharing data for advertising purposes, offering a breather to the tech giant.

New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI) The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Thursday stayed the five-year ban imposed by competition watchdog CCI on data-sharing practices between WhatsApp and Meta for advertising purposes, offering a breather to the tech giant.
Meta welcomed the "NCLAT's decision to grant a partial stay on the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) order" and said it will evaluate next steps.
"While we will evaluate next steps, our focus remains on finding a path forward that supports millions of businesses that depend on our platform for growth and innovation as well as providing high-quality experiences that people expect from WhatsApp," a Meta spokesperson said.
In November, the CCI imposed a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on social media major Meta for unfair business ways with respect to the WhatsApp privacy policy update done in 2021.
Meta Platforms and WhatsApp had challenged this order before the NCLAT, which is an appellate authority over the orders passed by the CCI.
In its 156-page order, the CCI had on November 18, 2024, directed Meta to cease and desist from anti-competitive practices.
According to that CCI order, Meta and WhatsApp have also been asked to implement certain behavioural remedies within a defined timeline to address the anti-competition issues.
The regulator called for implementing various remedial measures, including barring WhatsApp from sharing data collected on its platform with other Meta companies or Meta company products for advertising purposes for five years.
Among other directions, CCI had said that sharing of user data collected on WhatsApp with other Meta companies or Meta company products for purposes other than for providing WhatsApp services shall not be made a condition for users to access WhatsApp services in India.
Meta welcomed the "NCLAT's decision to grant a partial stay on the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) order" and said it will evaluate next steps.
"While we will evaluate next steps, our focus remains on finding a path forward that supports millions of businesses that depend on our platform for growth and innovation as well as providing high-quality experiences that people expect from WhatsApp," a Meta spokesperson said.
In November, the CCI imposed a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on social media major Meta for unfair business ways with respect to the WhatsApp privacy policy update done in 2021.
Meta Platforms and WhatsApp had challenged this order before the NCLAT, which is an appellate authority over the orders passed by the CCI.
In its 156-page order, the CCI had on November 18, 2024, directed Meta to cease and desist from anti-competitive practices.
According to that CCI order, Meta and WhatsApp have also been asked to implement certain behavioural remedies within a defined timeline to address the anti-competition issues.
The regulator called for implementing various remedial measures, including barring WhatsApp from sharing data collected on its platform with other Meta companies or Meta company products for advertising purposes for five years.
Among other directions, CCI had said that sharing of user data collected on WhatsApp with other Meta companies or Meta company products for purposes other than for providing WhatsApp services shall not be made a condition for users to access WhatsApp services in India.
Source: PTI
Read More On:
DISCLAIMER - This article is from a syndicated feed. The original source is responsible for accuracy, views & content ownership. Views expressed may not reflect those of rediff.com India Limited.
You May Like To Read
TODAY'S MOST TRADED COMPANIES
- Company Name
- Price
- Volume
- Srestha Finvest
- 0.52 ( -8.77)
- 55285518
- Vodafone Idea L
- 8.07 ( -2.42)
- 34584307
- G G Engineering
- 1.04 ( -1.89)
- 10071638
- Standard Capital
- 0.79 ( 0.00)
- 9971293
- YES Bank Ltd.
- 17.46 ( -1.19)
- 9343371
MORE NEWS

LIC Launches Smart Pension Plan with Multiple...
LIC introduces a single-premium smart pension plan offering annuity options for single...

Rishi Sunak Meets India's Finance Minister:...
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with India's Finance Minister Nirmala...
Prime Focus Acquires Metaphysic for AI Content...
Prime Focus's Brahma acquires Metaphysic, a developer of AI content creation...