User info unavailable after account deletion: WhatsApp to HC

New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) Social networking platformWhatsApp today told Delhi High Court that on deletion of useraccount, the information of that person is no longer retainedon its servers. The submission came in response to a query by a bench ofChief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal asto whether user information is retained after accountdeletion. The social networking site’s submission was opposed bythe petitioners, who have challenged WhatsApp’s new privacypolicy, saying that as per the company’s affidavit userinformation continues to be retained for a longer period oftime. After hearing arguments on behalf of the petitioners andthe social networking platform, the bench said it will "passorder" on September 23. Senior advocate Pratibha M Singh, appearing forpetitioners Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi, told thecourt that while WhatsApp claims in its affidavit that it doesnot retain messages, the company has contradicted itself bysaying it can keep the messages for a longer period of time toimprove performance. WhatsApp had on September 14 opposed in high court theplea alleging that privacy of its users have been threatenedby a new privacy policy announced by Facebook, sayingregulations were in place and the latter does not have accessto any data as it provides end-to-end encryption. WhatsApp had made extensive changes to its privacy policyon August 25, the first time since it was acquired byFacebook, giving users the option of sharing their accountinformation with the social network giant. The messagingservice gave its users 30 days till September 25 to opt out ofthe policy. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for WhatsApp,had told court that there are government regulations in placeand the application does not share users private messages,contents, photos or data with Facebook. (More) PTI HMP PPS ABARRTDV