End-to-end encryption protects WhatsApp communications from being accessed by outside parties. WhatsApp filed a lawsuit against MeitY's new rules.
The new law requires messaging apps to trace' chats. The platforms must also designate a chief compliance officer, a nodal contact person, and a resident grievance officer as part of the legislation's additional due diligence duties.
On May 25, PTI reported that WhatsApp approached the Delhi High Court against the new rules. The company petitioned that users' right to privacy on its messaging service would be violated through the new guidelines, and the firm was against the traceability rule. Under the new guidelines, MeitY stressed tracing the message line from the originator to the receiver and providing voluntary verification for user identity.
This lead to some contentions being made on social media regarding the government and WhatsApp. One such viral message said that WhatsApp had introduced new communication rules that allow the government to record calls and monitor all messages. According to the post, a third red tick represented that the government received the message, and an action would be initiated against the user.
At Whatsapp FAQ's page on WhatsApp's Privacy Policy, the messages have end-to-end encryption that protects and secures user's messages. In this clause, no one can check the messages except the two parties involved in the chat. PIB tweeted in April 2020 on the posts related to the ticks and informed people the government introduced no such ticks. It was recently retweeted on Twitter again.
Whatsapp has challenged the government on the traceability clause claiming it to be "unconstitutional and against the fundamental right to privacy." It has not implemented the new rules. On its FAQ page on "What is traceability and why does WhatsApp oppose it," Whatsapp explains that the clause breaks the end-to-end encryption. It further violates human rights and places innocent people at risk.
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