WhatsApp has been in the eye of a tempest for quite a long time over its privacy policy and now over its position on making a move against certain substance that many consider unacceptable. It has prompted activity from users, who have relocated in huge numbers from WhatsApp to match informing applications like Telegram, and from authorities who have raised certain requests. The most recent activity that is being requested to be taken against WhatsApp in India happened in Kerala. A PIL was fileded in the Kerala High Court that sought a directive to be given to the Central government to ban the operation and use of WhatsApp if it is not willing to co-operate with the lawful authorities in India. The plea was submitted by KG Omanakuttan a Software Engineer from Idukki district in Kerala.
The plea had said, “WhatsApp itself violates the privacy of its users. It is violating the fundamental rights of the citizens guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution and posing a potential threat to the national interest and national security.”
It stated that fake information in the form of text, pictures and recordings is by and large broadly spread and coursed and that character assassination of numerous prominent personalities of all political parties was done using such messages.
ANI quoted the plea further as saying, “If the app was not willing to change its technology and did not co-operate with the government, it should not be allowed to operate in the country. The Centre had banned many websites and mobile Apps for acting against the interest of the country. The app cannot blame the law of this land.”
In any case, the Bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly excused the request, detailed ANI. The court said, “It should be the job of investigating agencies and courts to decide whether messages from WhatsApp were manipulated by users to not be used as evidence. We are not inclined to entertain any of the prayers sought for, we are dismissing the write petition.”
