India restricts WhatsApp data sharing, Meta (META.US) plans to appeal.

India's competition regulator restricts Meta Platforms (META.US) from sharing advertising data between WhatsApp and its other apps, and imposes a $25.4 million fine. Meta said on Tuesday that it plans to appeal this order. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) announced on Monday that the data sharing restrictions will be in place for five years. The agency investigated WhatsApp's privacy policy in 2021, which allowed Meta to share data among its subsidiaries, causing strong opposition globally. It is reported that European users can choose not to accept this version of the privacy policy, but Indian users can only choose between accepting the 2021 version of the privacy policy and quitting WhatsApp. The Competition Commission of India stated on Monday: "Sharing user data collected on WhatsApp with other divisions of Meta, rather than for providing WhatsApp services, should not be a condition of accessing WhatsApp services in India." A spokesperson for Meta said on Tuesday that the 2021 update did not change the privacy of people's personal information. The spokesperson said: "We also ensure that no one will be removed from their account or lose access to WhatsApp services due to this update."