Law tribunal limits WhatsApp's data usage powers, upholds user consent rights The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal has issued a directive limiting WhatsApp's power over user data, requiring Meta and WhatsApp to provide clear options for users to decide how their personal information is collected and used. AdvertisementThe NCLAT specified that WhatsApp users must be provided with a genuine opt-in and opt-out mechanism related to data collection. Aneesha MathurNew Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 16, 2025 14:22 ISTEdited By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaThe National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has issued an order "clarifying" a previous Competition Commission of India judgment concerning WhatsApp's privacy policy. The tribunal's decision mandates that Meta and its subsidiary WhatsApp must allow users to freely choose whether to share their data and grants users greater authority over their personal information. The NCLAT specified that WhatsApp users must be provided with a genuine opt-in and opt-out mechanism related to data collection. This move is designed to ensure that individuals can decide what data is collected about them, the purposes for which it is used, and the duration it is stored. advertisement The tribunal emphasised that these mechanisms should be clear, accessible, and not buried in lengthy terms and conditions, so users can make informed decisions about their privacy. According to the tribunals order, users must retain the right to determine the use of their data at every level.
