The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has passed an order related to WhatsApp’s privacy policy. The order clarifies an earlier judgment given by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Through this decision, the tribunal has said that WhatsApp and its parent company Meta must give users more control over their personal data.

According to the NCLAT, WhatsApp users should be able to freely choose whether or not they want to share their data. The tribunal made it clear that users must not be forced into sharing information. Instead, they should have a real option to say “yes” or “no” when it comes to data collection and data sharing.

The tribunal directed that WhatsApp must provide a proper opt-in and opt-out system. This means users should clearly know what data is being collected, why it is being collected, and how long it will be stored. Users must also be allowed to change their decision later if they want to. The tribunal stressed that consent should be clear and meaningful, not hidden inside long and confusing terms and conditions that people usually do not read.

The order also says that users should have full control over their data at every level. Any data collected for purposes that are not essential to running the app, such as using data for advertising or sharing it with other Meta companies, can only happen if the user clearly agrees to it. This consent must be given freely and must be reversible, meaning users can withdraw it whenever they want.

The NCLAT also stated that Meta and WhatsApp cannot claim unlimited or one-sided rights over users’ personal data. The tribunal highlighted the importance of user choice and privacy, saying that individuals must have the final say on how their personal information is used or processed by the platform.

As per the order, Meta and WhatsApp have been given three months to update and implement a new privacy policy. This revised policy must allow users to easily give and take back consent for all types of data usage. The tribunal expects clear and visible changes in how WhatsApp asks for permission and respects user decisions across the app.

This decision comes at a time when there is growing concern around digital privacy and the power of big technology companies. The order reinforces the idea that users’ rights and choices should come first when it comes to personal data.