India Antitrust Body Defends WhatsApp, Meta Probe Amid Jurisdiction challenge
New Delhi – India’s Competition Commission of India (CCI) is vigorously defending its authority to investigate WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta Platforms, asserting that the core of the case centers on potential anticompetitive conduct, not user privacy. the CCI made its arguments before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Monday, September 23, 2024, countering claims by the tech giants regarding jurisdictional limitations.
The dispute stems from the CCI’s renewed scrutiny of WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy update, which raised concerns about data sharing practices between WhatsApp and Meta. While a previous case related to the policy was closed, the CCI maintains that this does not preclude a fresh investigation into potential abuse of a dominant market position. the watchdog argues that WhatsApp’s established network effects create barriers for competitors and lock in users, possibly stifling competition.
According to the CCI, the central issue isn’t how user data is handled, but rather whether WhatsApp and Meta are leveraging their market dominance to unfairly disadvantage other players in the messaging and social media landscape. The CCI further argued that the tech companies’ attempts to challenge its investigative powers are unfounded.
The outcome of this legal battle could significantly impact how digital markets are regulated in India and set a precedent for antitrust enforcement against large technology firms operating within the country.the NCLAT will now consider the CCI’s arguments and Meta and WhatsApp’s counterclaims, with a decision expected in the coming months.
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