The Hindu Editorial • February 09, 2026 • Read Original

Messaging power: on a healthy digital marketplace

The data sharing policies of WhatsApp must be scrutinised thoroughly

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The Hindu Read Original

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Analysis of editorial from The Hindu newspaper on February 09, 2026

Messaging power: on a healthy digital marketplace

The data sharing policies of WhatsApp must be scrutinised thoroughly

WhatsApp Privacy PolicyMeta PlatformsCompetition Commission of IndiaSupreme Court of IndiaDigital Competition LawUser Data Sharing

Sentences

Sentence 1 of 15

English Original

The Supreme Court of India, last week, sharply questioned Meta Platforms LLC and its messaging platform WhatsApp, in an appeal rooted in updates it made in 2021 around user data sharing with other Meta services such as Instagram and Facebook.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Supreme Court of India

The highest judicial body in the country

Part 2

last week

During the previous seven days

Part 3

questioned

Asked tough or critical questions to get clear answers

Part 4

Meta Platforms LLC and its messaging platform WhatsApp

The big tech company Meta and the chat app it owns

Part 5

in an updates it made in 2021 around with other Meta services such as Instagram and Facebook

In a legal case that started because of changes WhatsApp made in 2021 to share user info with Facebook and Instagram

Context and Background

2021 Privacy Policy Controversy

In early 2021, WhatsApp announced a privacy policy update that would allow it to share certain user data with its parent company, Meta (then Facebook). This move was widely criticized in India as a “take-it-or-leave-it” ultimatum, leading to several legal challenges in High Courts and the Supreme Court over concerns about user privacy and data protection.

Sentence 2 of 15

English Original

The Court underscored the power that WhatsApp holds in India’s messaging ecosystem: it is practically impossible to reach everyone with a smartphone, coordinate groups, and undertake business communications without being on WhatsApp.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Court

The Supreme Court of India

Part 2

Highlighted or gave special importance to something

Part 3

the power that WhatsApp holds in India’s messaging

The strong influence WhatsApp has over how people talk to each other online in India

Part 4

it is impossible to reach everyone with a smartphone, groups, and business communications without being on WhatsApp

It is almost impossible to talk to everyone, manage groups, or do business work if you don’t use WhatsApp

Context and Background

Dominance of WhatsApp in India

With over 500 million users, India is WhatsApp’s largest market. The app has become so essential that it is used not just for chatting, but for schooling, government services, and small business operations, making it extremely difficult for an average citizen to function without it.

Sentence 3 of 15

English Original

The app’s “network effect” has captured nearly every smartphone in the country.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The app’s “”

The way the app becomes more useful as more people join it

Part 2

has captured

Has successfully reached or taken over

Part 3

nearly every smartphone in the country

Almost all mobile phones used in India

Context and Background

The Network Effect

The network effect is the main reason why certain apps become dominant. Since almost everyone in India is already on WhatsApp, new users feel compelled to join it to stay connected, making it difficult for competing apps to grow even if they offer better features.

Sentence 4 of 15

English Original

The precise background of the litigation that reached the Court is an appeal against a ₹213.14 crore penalty issued by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for abruptly amending its privacy policy, allowing the firm to share user data across its sister concerns, Facebook and Instagram.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The background of the that reached the Court

The exact history of the legal case brought before the Supreme Court

Part 2

Describes what something is

Part 3

an appeal against a ₹213.14 crore issued by the for its privacy policy, allowing the firm to share user data across its , Facebook and Instagram

A challenge against a large fine by the CCI because WhatsApp suddenly changed its rules to share user information with Facebook and Instagram

Context and Background

CCI Penalty on WhatsApp

In 2024, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Meta ₹213.14 crore for abusing its dominant position in the messaging market. The CCI found that the 2021 policy update forced users to share data for advertising purposes across all Meta apps, which was unfair since users had no real way to “opt-out” while staying on the platform.

Sentence 5 of 15

English Original

Users were prompted at that time to accept the terms or cease using the service.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Users

People who use the WhatsApp application

Part 2

were prompted

Were officially asked or told to do something through a notification

Part 3

at that time

Back in 2021 when the changes were introduced

Part 4

to accept the or using the service

To agree to the new rules or stop using the app completely

Sentence 6 of 15

English Original

This ultimatum was problematic, and understandably drew pushback from civil society, the government, and the CCI.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

This

The final demand to accept the rules or leave the app

Part 2

was

Describes a state in the past

Part 3

problematic

Full of issues or causing worry

Part 4

drew

Naturally caused people to react against it

Part 5

from , the government, and the CCI

Strong opposition from common people’s groups, the Indian government, and the competition regulator

Sentence 7 of 15

English Original

Nobody argues that WhatsApp must not earn money for a service that has been transformative for communications in India.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Nobody

No person or organization

Part 2

argues

Says or claims as a reason

Part 3

that WhatsApp must not earn money for a service that has been for in India

The idea that WhatsApp shouldn’t make profit for a tool that completely changed how Indians talk to each other

Sentence 8 of 15

English Original

Owing to its parent’s massive scale of operations, WhatsApp has been able to offer messaging, multimedia sharing, telephony — services that were until 2016 prohibitively priced by telecom operators — for free, with only an Internet connection and a phone number as a pre-requisite.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

its parent’s massive

Because the company that owns it (Meta) is so huge and does business globally

Part 2

The messaging app being discussed

Part 3

has been able to offer

Has had the capability to provide

Part 4

messaging, sharing, — services that were until 2016 by —

Texting, sending videos/photos, and calling, which were very expensive before 2016 on older phone services

Part 5

for free

Without charging any money

Part 6

with only an Internet connection and a phone number as a

Needing just a simple data connection and a mobile number to start

Context and Background

2016 Telecom Revolution in India

Before 2016, mobile users in India paid high rates for voice calls and SMS. The entry of Reliance Jio provided extremely cheap data, which allowed WhatsApp to become the primary tool for communication, replacing traditional, expensive telecom services for millions of Indians.

Sentence 9 of 15

English Original

WhatsApp’s enthusiastic adoption of end-to-end encryption also furthered a societal expectation for secure communications as a norm, in a country where telecommunications has always been subjected to excessive executive-led surveillance.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

WhatsApp’s enthusiastic of

WhatsApp’s quick decision to use a system where only the sender and receiver can read messages

Part 2

also

In addition to other things

Part 3

furthered

Helped to develop or promote something

Part 4

a for secure communications as a

The idea among people that private chatting should always be safe and secret

Part 5

in a country where telecommunications has always been excessive

In India, where the government has a history of monitoring phone calls and messages too much

Context and Background

Surveillance and Privacy in India

India’s telegraph and IT laws give the government broad powers to monitor communications for national security. However, these powers are often criticized for lack of transparency. Strong encryption in apps like WhatsApp became a major “privacy shield” for Indian citizens against such government monitoring.

Sentence 10 of 15

English Original

What is equally true is that WhatsApp is so deeply embedded in Indian society that its transition to an advertising model, where it would start making money here, deserves the highest scrutiny.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

What is equally true

Another fact that is just as important as the previous ones

Part 2

Describes the state of things

Part 3

that WhatsApp is so in Indian society that its to an , where it would start making money here, deserves the highest

That WhatsApp is so much a part of Indian life that when it starts showing ads and making money, we must check it very carefully

Sentence 11 of 15

English Original

Competition regulators, including in India, have frowned upon ubiquitous platforms that present users with ultimatums that they can scarcely refuse.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

, including in India

Government agencies (like the CCI) that make sure companies compete fairly

Part 2

have

Have shown disapproval or dislike toward something

Part 3

platforms that present users with ultimatums that they can refuse

Apps that are everywhere (like WhatsApp) and give users final choices that are hard to reject

Sentence 12 of 15

English Original

There are free alternatives to WhatsApp that work just as well — Signal, Telegram and even Arattai from Zoho are serviceable — but they lack what makes the Meta product so valuable: the guarantee that virtually everyone one knows is on it.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

free to WhatsApp that work just as well — Signal, Telegram and even are —

Other apps you can use for free instead of WhatsApp, like Signal or Telegram, which are good enough to use

Part 2

lack

Do not have something that is needed

Part 3

what makes the Meta product so valuable: the that everyone one knows is on it

The main thing that makes WhatsApp useful: the certainty that almost every person you know is already using it

Context and Background

Messaging Competitors in India

Apps like Signal and Telegram offer better privacy features than WhatsApp, and Zoho’s Arattai provides a homegrown Indian alternative. However, due to the “network effect,” these apps struggle to replace WhatsApp because users don’t want to switch to a platform where their contacts aren’t present.

Sentence 13 of 15

English Original

Allowing users to “opt out” of data sharing is an inappropriate remedy for services at WhatsApp’s scale, because the power of the default option at that scale leaves far too many with no real, informed choice in the matter.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Allowing users to “” of data sharing

Giving users a button to say ‘no’ to sharing their personal info

Part 2

Describes what something is

Part 3

an for services at WhatsApp’s

A solution that doesn’t work well for an app with millions of users

Part 4

because the power of the at that scale leaves far too many with no real, in the matter

Because most people just use the standard settings and don’t really understand or change them

Context and Background

The Power of Default Settings

When a setting is “on” by default, most users never change it. In a massive application like WhatsApp, keeping data sharing as the default ensures that the majority of users end up allowing their data to be shared, often without fully realizing it.

Sentence 14 of 15

English Original

The Court’s thoughts on this matter are correct, but they need to be supported by a digital competition law, a draft of which was released in 2024, but has seen little progress since.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Court’s thoughts on this matter

The opinions and statements made by the Supreme Court about this issue

Part 2

are

Describes a state or fact

Part 3

correct

Right or accurate

Part 4

need to be supported

Must be given strength or legal backing

Part 5

by a , a of which was released in 2024, but has seen little since

By a new set of rules for internet companies that was first shared in 2024 but hasn’t moved forward much since then

Context and Background

Digital Competition Bill 2024

In 2024, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs released a draft of the Digital Competition Bill. It was designed to proactively solve problems like unfair data sharing by large tech platforms, but the bill has faced delays in Parliament due to consultations and debates among stakeholders.

Sentence 15 of 15

English Original

As India approaches a billion Internet users, that law is needed to protect and foster a healthy digital marketplace.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

As India a Internet users

While India gets close to having 100 crore people using the internet

Part 2

that law

The digital competition rules discussed earlier

Part 3

is needed

Is required or necessary right now

Part 4

to protect and a healthy

To keep the online market safe and help it grow in a fair and good way

Sentence 1 of 15

Sentences Breakdown

Editorial Summary

5-Point Summary

1 The Supreme Court questioned Meta and WhatsApp regarding their 2021 privacy policy updates that mandate data sharing between platforms.
2 The Court highlighted WhatsApp’s dominant “network effect,” making it nearly impossible for Indian users to avoid the app for essential communications.
3 The Competition Commission of India (CCI) previously fined Meta ₹213.14 crore for forcing this data-sharing policy on users as an ultimatum.
4 Alternative apps like Signal and Telegram exist, but they lack the massive user base that makes WhatsApp indispensable.
5 India needs a formal digital competition law to ensure a fair marketplace and protect users from being forced into unfair data-sharing agreements.

Tone of the Editorial

Analytical

Why this tone?

The editorial systematically examines the market dominance of WhatsApp, the legal challenges it faces, and the legislative gaps in India’s digital ecosystem. It presents the conflict between platform scale and user choice with careful reasoning.

Sentence 1 of 15

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Supreme Court of India

The highest judicial body in the country

Part 2

last week

During the previous seven days

Part 3

sharply questioned

Asked tough or critical questions to get clear answers

Part 4

Meta Platforms LLC and its messaging platform WhatsApp

The big tech company Meta and the chat app it owns

Part 5

in an appeal rooted in updates it made in 2021 around user data sharing with other Meta services such as Instagram and Facebook

In a legal case that started because of changes WhatsApp made in 2021 to share user info with Facebook and Instagram

Sentence 2 of 15

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Court

The Supreme Court of India

Part 2

underscored

Highlighted or gave special importance to something

Part 3

the power that WhatsApp holds in India’s messaging ecosystem

The strong influence WhatsApp has over how people talk to each other online in India

Part 4

it is practically impossible to reach everyone with a smartphone, coordinate groups, and undertake business communications without being on WhatsApp

It is almost impossible to talk to everyone, manage groups, or do business work if you don’t use WhatsApp

Sentence 3 of 15

The app’s “network effect” has captured nearly every smartphone in the country.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The app’s “network effect”

The way the app becomes more useful as more people join it

Part 2

has captured

Has successfully reached or taken over

Part 3

nearly every smartphone in the country

Almost all mobile phones used in India

Sentence 4 of 15

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The precise background of the litigation that reached the Court

The exact history of the legal case brought before the Supreme Court

Part 2

Describes what something is

Part 3

an appeal against a ₹213.14 crore penalty issued by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for abruptly amending its privacy policy, allowing the firm to share user data across its sister concerns, Facebook and Instagram

A challenge against a large fine by the CCI because WhatsApp suddenly changed its rules to share user information with Facebook and Instagram

Sentence 5 of 15

Users were prompted at that time to accept the terms or cease using the service.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Users

People who use the WhatsApp application

Part 2

were prompted

Were officially asked or told to do something through a notification

Part 3

at that time

Back in 2021 when the changes were introduced

Part 4

to accept the terms or cease using the service

To agree to the new rules or stop using the app completely

Sentence 6 of 15

This ultimatum was problematic, and understandably drew pushback from civil society, the government, and the CCI.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

This ultimatum

The final demand to accept the rules or leave the app

Part 2

was

Describes a state in the past

Part 3

problematic

Full of issues or causing worry

Part 4

understandably drew

Naturally caused people to react against it

Part 5

pushback from civil society, the government, and the CCI

Strong opposition from common people’s groups, the Indian government, and the competition regulator

Sentence 7 of 15

Nobody argues that WhatsApp must not earn money for a service that has been transformative for communications in India.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Nobody

No person or organization

Part 2

argues

Says or claims as a reason

Part 3

that WhatsApp must not earn money for a service that has been transformative for communications in India

The idea that WhatsApp shouldn’t make profit for a tool that completely changed how Indians talk to each other

Sentence 8 of 15

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Owing to its parent’s massive scale of operations

Because the company that owns it (Meta) is so huge and does business globally

Part 2

The messaging app being discussed

Part 3

has been able to offer

Has had the capability to provide

Part 4

messaging, multimedia sharing, telephony — services that were until 2016 prohibitively priced by telecom operators —

Texting, sending videos/photos, and calling, which were very expensive before 2016 on older phone services

Part 5

for free

Without charging any money

Part 6

with only an Internet connection and a phone number as a pre-requisite

Needing just a simple data connection and a mobile number to start

Sentence 9 of 15

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

WhatsApp’s enthusiastic adoption of end-to-end encryption

WhatsApp’s quick decision to use a system where only the sender and receiver can read messages

Part 2

also

In addition to other things

Part 3

furthered

Helped to develop or promote something

Part 4

a societal expectation for secure communications as a norm

The idea among people that private chatting should always be safe and secret

Part 5

in a country where telecommunications has always been subjected to excessive executive-led surveillance

In India, where the government has a history of monitoring phone calls and messages too much

Sentence 10 of 15

What is equally true is that WhatsApp is so deeply embedded in Indian society that its transition to an advertising model, where it would start making money here, deserves the highest scrutiny.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

What is equally true

Another fact that is just as important as the previous ones

Part 2

Describes the state of things

Part 3

that WhatsApp is so deeply embedded in Indian society that its transition to an advertising model, where it would start making money here, deserves the highest scrutiny

That WhatsApp is so much a part of Indian life that when it starts showing ads and making money, we must check it very carefully

Sentence 11 of 15

Competition regulators, including in India, have frowned upon ubiquitous platforms that present users with ultimatums that they can scarcely refuse.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Competition regulators, including in India

Government agencies (like the CCI) that make sure companies compete fairly

Part 2

have frowned upon

Have shown disapproval or dislike toward something

Part 3

ubiquitous platforms that present users with ultimatums that they can scarcely refuse

Apps that are everywhere (like WhatsApp) and give users final choices that are hard to reject

Sentence 12 of 15

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

free alternatives to WhatsApp that work just as well — Signal, Telegram and even Arattai from Zoho are serviceable —

Other apps you can use for free instead of WhatsApp, like Signal or Telegram, which are good enough to use

Part 2

lack

Do not have something that is needed

Part 3

what makes the Meta product so valuable: the guarantee that virtually everyone one knows is on it

The main thing that makes WhatsApp useful: the certainty that almost every person you know is already using it

Sentence 13 of 15

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Allowing users to “opt out” of data sharing

Giving users a button to say ‘no’ to sharing their personal info

Part 2

Describes what something is

Part 3

an inappropriate remedy for services at WhatsApp’s scale

A solution that doesn’t work well for an app with millions of users

Part 4

because the power of the default option at that scale leaves far too many with no real, informed choice in the matter

Because most people just use the standard settings and don’t really understand or change them

Sentence 14 of 15

The Court’s thoughts on this matter are correct, but they need to be supported by a digital competition law, a draft of which was released in 2024, but has seen little progress since.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Court’s thoughts on this matter

The opinions and statements made by the Supreme Court about this issue

Part 2

are

Describes a state or fact

Part 3

correct

Right or accurate

Part 4

need to be supported

Must be given strength or legal backing

Part 5

by a digital competition law, a draft of which was released in 2024, but has seen little progress since

By a new set of rules for internet companies that was first shared in 2024 but hasn’t moved forward much since then

Sentence 15 of 15

As India approaches a billion Internet users, that law is needed to protect and foster a healthy digital marketplace.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

As India approaches a billion Internet users

While India gets close to having 100 crore people using the internet

Part 2

that law

The digital competition rules discussed earlier

Part 3

is needed

Is required or necessary right now

Part 4

to protect and foster a healthy digital marketplace

To keep the online market safe and help it grow in a fair and good way

Reading Comprehension

Practice questions based on this editorial

Reading Comprehension - Messaging Power and Digital Marketplace

Practice reading comprehension questions based on the editorial about WhatsApp's data-sharing policies and the need for a digital competition law in India.

5 Questions Passing: 70%

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