The Indian technology ministry has reportedly asked WhatsApp to revoke its controversial privacy policy. This comes after the Facebook-owned messaging app began rolling out a new privacy policy that supports data sharing with Facebook.

India Refutes WhatsApp's Data Sharing Policy

The fine print of WhatsApp's upcoming privacy policy states that users will be forced to share data with Facebook in order to "improve, understand, customize, support, and market" its services.

Users didn't take kindly to this change, which prompted WhatsApp to delay the implementation of the policy amid "confusion" and "misinformation." WhatsApp also said that the privacy update won't affect day-to-day conversations—it will only affect users who decide to do business on the app.

Even still, India has decided to take a stand against this change. A report from Reuters revealed an emailed statement from the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to the head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart.

The ministry wrote, "The proposed changes raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens. Therefore, you are called upon to withdraw the proposed changes."

The ministry is also concerned that WhatsApp isn't giving Indian users the opportunity to opt-out of this data sharing policy. It's even more concerned that European users won't be forced into the same policy, stating:

This differential and discriminatory treatment of Indian and European users is attracting serious criticism and betrays a lack of respect for the rights and interest of Indian citizens who form a substantial portion of WhatsApp’s user base.

Thanks to Europe's strict data sharing regulations, it won't have to submit to WhatsApp's mandatory policy. Additionally, the ministry also asked WhatsApp to answer 14 questions about what types of user data it will collect, how the data will be used, and if the data will get transferred to other countries.

In response, WhatsApp told Reuters that it wants "to reinforce that this update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook."

How Will This Affect WhatsApp?

India is one of the biggest markets for WhatsApp, as it has accumulated over 400 million users throughout the country. India's refusal of the new policy could deal a huge blow to WhatsApp, especially since WhatsApp planned on offering health insurance through the app exclusively in India.

The introduction of the new privacy policy sparked a mass migration from WhatsApp to other messaging alternatives, as Signal and Telegram both saw a surge in users. If WhatsApp doesn't amend its policy, it's likely that it'll never recover its full userbase.