Supreme Court strict on WhatsApp’s advertising plan, notice issued to Meta

Updated: 23-02-2026, 08.28 PM

What is the news?

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Meta in the matter of the proposed five-year ban related to advertising on WhatsApp. This matter came to light after the recommendation of the Competition Commission of India, in which serious objections were raised on data sharing. The court is hearing the appeal of Meta and WhatsApp, in which they have challenged the decision of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and termed the fine as wrong.

Controversy over fine and privacy policy

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal had upheld a penalty of over Rs 213 crore imposed by CCI over the 2021 Privacy Policy. However, the tribunal had rejected the part that prohibited sharing of user data with meta companies for advertising purposes. WhatsApp has filed an affidavit in its favor saying that its policies are in accordance with the law.

Strict comment on targeted advertising

In a recent hearing, the Supreme Court gave a stern warning to Meta and WhatsApp and described privacy as a fundamental right. The court said that it will not allow sharing of users’ personal data for advertising and companies will have to adopt a clear transparent policy. The bench headed by the Chief Justice said that companies cannot play with the privacy rights of the citizens of the country and they should explain their rules in clear language.

Serious questions on data sharing

The court said that people do not have much choice and many users are not able to understand the complex terms. The court also raised the question whether a common citizen can properly understand the legal and technical language. The court made it clear that personal information will not be allowed to be misused or misused for commercial gain. Now the next hearing of this case has been fixed on April 19.