The Supreme Court has strongly reprimanded Meta for sharing data of WhatsApp users. On February 3, 2026, the Supreme Court said, ‘We will not allow users’ information to be used commercially. This court is for the common people. It is not for any international company worth billions of crores. Privacy of citizens is a fundamental right.

Supreme Court refuses to allow Meta

CJI Surya Kant asked Meta in a stern tone, ‘You will give the option of opt out (not participating in anything) to the users who are not ready for data sharing. But can the roadside fruit seller understand your terms? Your terms and conditions are written in such difficult language that even we may not be able to understand them. This is a kind of theft. We will not allow this.

The Supreme Court clearly said that the users have been addicted to such apps and now the compulsion is being taken wrong advantage of. If you cannot follow the rules of our Constitution, then leave India. We will not allow the privacy of citizens to be compromised.

Data of millions of users was misused: Supreme Court

CJI Surya Kant said that people’s data is being used for commercial gains and till now the data of millions of users has been misused. During this, Meta’s lawyer Akhil Sibal argued that limited data sharing is allowed for commercial purposes. On this the CJI said, ‘If you find any part of the data worth selling, then you will sell it. Simply because Indian consumers are silent and have no voice. You can’t make them victims.