WhatsApp Data Privacy: On February 3, 2026, the Supreme Court took a tough stand against Meta and made it clear that it will not tolerate playing with people’s privacy to increase business. The court has described the use of data sharing for commercial gain as a matter of serious concern.

The Supreme Court, while hearing the data sharing case of WhatsApp users, has strongly reprimanded Meta. The court said in clear words that it will not allow personal information of users to be used commercially. During the hearing, the bench remarked that “This court is for the common people, not for any international company worth billions and crores.” The Court stressed that privacy of citizens is a fundamental right and there cannot be any compromise with it.

Tough rules and ‘theft’ accuse of

During the hearing, CJI Surya Kant raised strong questions on the functioning of Meta and its conditions. He asked Meta if they could allow those users to ‘opt out’ Will give the option of (opt-out) to those who do not want to share their data. However, he gave a very practical example, raising questions about the complexity of this process. The CJI asked, “Can an ordinary woman selling fruits on the roadside understand these tough conditions of yours?”

The Court believes that the terms of the Meta are written in such difficult and complex language that even legal experts cannot easily understand them. Seeing this situation, the court called it a kind of theft. Agreed and clearly said that this will not be allowed at all. The court also commented that users have now become addicted to these apps and companies are taking advantage of this helplessness of the people.

“Indians cannot be made victims”

The court expressed deep concern over the fact that till now the data of millions of users has been misused. During the hearing, advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Meta, argued that limited data sharing can be allowed for commercial purposes. On this, CJI Surya Kant gave a sharp reaction and said that if you find any part of the data worth selling, then you will sell it.

The CJI further said that “Just because Indian consumers are mute and do not have a voice, you cannot victimize them.” The Court made it clear that data security is not just a policy issue, but it is a matter to the rights of crores of Indians, which cannot be sacrificed for the profits of any international company.

…Then leave the country

The Supreme Court bench made strong remarks during the hearing and said that the country’s privacy cannot be played with in the name of data sharing. The court said that the privacy terms of the companies are so complex and cleverly designed that the common man cannot easily understand them, which becomes a “civilized way” of obtaining personal information. The Chief Justice said, ‘If you cannot follow our Constitution, then leave India. We will not allow the privacy of citizens to be compromised.”