WhatsApp users in India will soon see significant changes to their app interface following the Competition Commission of India’s order requiring Meta to implement new privacy controls and data-sharing options.
The messaging platform, with over 500 million users in India, must add prominent in-app notifications allowing users to opt out of data sharing with Meta’s other platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. A new dedicated tab in WhatsApp settings will let users review and modify their data-sharing preferences.
The changes come after CCI’s ₹213.14 crore fine on Meta and its directive prohibiting WhatsApp from sharing user data with other Meta companies for advertising purposes for five years. The order affects both new users and those who previously accepted the 2021 privacy policy update.
Users will see clearer explanations within the app about what data is being shared and why. WhatsApp must provide detailed information linking specific types of collected data to their intended purposes, making the platform’s data practises more transparent to Indian users.
“The interface modifications represent a significant shift in how WhatsApp handles user privacy in India,” said a CCI spokesperson. “Users will have greater control over their data through easily accessible opt-out options.”
Meta must implement these changes within a defined timeline set by the regulator, though specific dates haven’t been announced. The company has not yet commented on how it plans to modify the app’s interface to comply with the new requirements.