CCI's Meta order revives questions on regulatory jurisdiction

As per the CCI order, Meta has time till mid-Feb to comply with its directions on specific data-related practice

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(Meity) on 3 January. The rules allow processing of digital personal data of individuals with informed consent, the persons said, requesting anonymity. The new law entrusts the Data Protection Board of India—to be set up by the government—with overseeing legitimate use of personal data based on consent.

"CCI's order on Meta Platforms prohibiting data sharing by WhatsApp for five years signals CCI's role as a guardian of personal data. It goes against the individual's sovereignty over data and small and medium businesses' ability to go for targeted advertising on the basis of such data," the person cited above said.

Meta's appeal against the CCI order is currently pending in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.

As per the CCI order, the company has time till mid-February—three months from the date of order—to comply with its directions on specific data-related practices. Stopping data sharing among group entities could impact Facebook's advertisement business and small businesses' ability to target advertisements, the second person said.