SC asks govt to reply to plea on privacy in WhatsApp, Facebook

The bench sought the assistance of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi in hearing the plea, which alleged that the social networking sites compromise the privacy of interpersonal communication of over 150 million people in the country.

The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses of the government and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on a plea seeking framing of privacy policy to regulate commercial exploitation of private communication through social networking sites like WhatsApp and Facebook.

A Supreme Court bench also issued notice to WhatsApp and Facebook and sought their responses within two weeks. (Reuters File Photo)

A bench comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and justice DY Chandrachud also issued notice to WhatsApp and Facebook and sought their responses within two weeks.

The bench sought the assistance of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi in hearing the plea, which alleged that the social networking sites compromise the privacy of interpersonal communication of over 150 million people in the country.

Senior advocate Harish Salve alleged that privacy of citizens has been infringed by the social networking sites, which amounted to infringment of Articles 19 (Freedom of Speech and Expression) and 21 (Right to Life) of the Constitution.

Right to Life includes the Right to Privacy, Salve said.