WhatsApp warns it would shut down in India if forced to break chat encryption

WhatsApp warns it will shut down in India if forced to break chat encryption

WhatsApp, known for its end-to-end encryption, has threatened to suspend services in India if it is forced to weaken conversation encryption. The messaging company expressed this stance to the Delhi High Court amid a legal struggle to maintain its encryption for chats, calls, and videos, which ensures user security.

Tejas Karia, who represents WhatsApp, stressed the platform’s commitment to encryption, pointing out that millions of users rely on its security features. WhatsApp’s encryption, coupled with its UPI payment functionality, is a major feature for India’s estimated 400 million active users.

However, the Indian government has requested that messaging apps offer message tracing under the 2021 IT Rules, which is difficult when messages are encrypted. WhatsApp claims that breaking encryption will violate users’ privacy under the Indian Constitution and that privacy rights should be protected.

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Despite similar demands in other countries, WhatsApp maintains its commitment to encryption, believing it is critical for user protection. The platform expects that such warnings will aid its argument and avoid the need to compromise its encryption.