Sharing generic user preferences not breach of privacy: WhatsApp

Social media platform WhatsApp told the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Tuesday that sharing basic account details and generic user preferences with Meta cannot be regarded asa vio-ation of users’ right to privacy.

- Ayesha Arvind

Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for WhatsApp, told NCLAT that the only information WhatsApp which too is owned by Meta, shares with the latter, is “generic, non-content data” inferred from “user interactions” with businesses on the platform, such as an “interest in luxury cars, frequent restaurant engagement, or regular travel.”