Govt Responds To WhatsApp’s Lawsuit, Says No Intention To Violate Right To Privacy
Mumbai: Responding to WhatsApp’s lawsuit against new IT rules, the government said it respects the Right to Privacy and has no intention to violate it when WhatsApp is required to disclose the origin of a particular message
The government said that it was committed to the right to privacy of citizens, adding it is subject to “reasonable restrictions” and “no fundamental right is absolute.”
“The government respects the right to privacy and has no intention of violating it when it is necessary to disclose the origin of a particular message on WhatsApp,” the ministry said in a press release on Wednesday evening.
“Such requirements only occur when a message is required for the prevention, investigation or punishment of very serious offences relating to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order, or of incitement to an offence relating to the above or in relation with rape, sexually explicit material or child sexual abuse material,” the release further said.
Emphasizing that the right to privacy is a fundamental right, the ministry further indicated how the new rules are “following the public interest”, in accordance with “the law of the land” and “an international priority.”
The ministry quoted Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as saying, “The government is committed to ensuring the right to privacy to all its citizens, but at the same time it is the responsibility of the government to maintain law and order and ensure national security.”
“None of the measures proposed by India will impact the normal functioning of WhatsApp in any manner whatsoever and for the common users, there will be no impact,” the minister further said.
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WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, moved the Delhi high court on Tuesday, stating in its plea that the rules are “unconstitutional,” “illegal” and a “dangerous invasion of privacy.”
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