Law Tribunal Stays Ban On WhatsApp Sharing Data With Parent Company Meta

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Thursday stayed a five-year ban imposed by competition watchdog CCI on data-sharing practices between WhatsApp and its parent Meta for advertising purposes, offering a breather to the tech giant.

Meta had challenged the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) directive issued in November 2024 that imposed a ban on data sharing between WhatsApp and other Meta entities for advertising purposes, warning it may have to roll back some features.

It had also slapped a Rs 213 crore penalty on Meta for abuse of its "dominant position." The NCLAT also stayed the Rs 213.14-crore penalty, subject to deposit of 50 per cent of the penalty amount (after taking into consideration 25 per cent already deposited), within two weeks.