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India: CCI initiates antitrust investigation into Whatsapp privacy update

Policy overview

Description

CCI initiates antitrust investigation into Whatsapp privacy update

On 24 March 2021, the Indian Competition Authority (CCI) initiated a suo moto antitrust investigation into Whatsapp/Meta regarding the 2021 Whatsapp privacy update. The Competition Authority claimed that users are unilaterally dictated “take it or l…

Scope

Policy Area
Competition
Policy Instrument
Unilateral conduct regulation
Regulated Economic Activity
messaging service provider
Implementation Level
national
Government Branch
executive
Government Body
competition authority

Complete timeline of this policy change

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2021-03-24
under deliberation

On 24 March 2021, the Indian Competition Authority (CCI) initiated a suo moto antitrust investigati…

2021-04-22
under investigation

On 22 April 2021, the Delhi High Court ruled that the Indian Competition Authority (CCI) can conduc…

2022-10-14
under investigation

On 10 October 2022, the Indian Supreme Court ruled that the Indian Competition Authority (CCI) can …

2024-11-18
in force

On 18 November 2024, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) issued a ruling against Meta for ant…

2025-01-23
under investigation

On 23 January 2025, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in New Delhi issued an orde…

2025-09-15
under appeal

On 12 September 2025, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Principal Bench, New Del…

2025-11-04
in force

On 4 November 2025, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) issued a ruling that partly…

2025-12-15
in force

On 15 December 2025, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) issued an order clarifying…

2026-02-03
under appeal

On 3 February 2026, the Supreme Court of India admitted Civil Appeal Nos. 301–302/2026 and connecte…