In a significant legal showdown unfolding at the Delhi High Court, WhatsApp, and the Indian Government find themselves at odds over a new law mandating the disclosure of message originators on social media platforms upon court order.
WhatsApp, with over 900 million users in India, has staunchly defended its end-to-end encryption, arguing that compromising it would jeopardize user privacy and potentially lead to the cessation of its services in the country.
Advocate Tejas Karia, representing WhatsApp, emphasized the platform’s commitment to user privacy and warned that any attempt to breach encryption would result in WhatsApp ceasing operations in India.
On the other hand, the Indian government contends that tracing message originators is crucial for combating harmful content and maintaining online safety standards, asserting social media platforms’ responsibility in assisting with such efforts.
The Delhi High Court has postponed proceedings to August 14, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach in addressing these concerns. The court will hear these cases alongside others transferred from the Supreme Court, signaling the complexity and significance of the legal dispute.
