Tue Sep 16 04:07:12 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
Meta Platforms (Facebook’s parent company) is challenging a penalty of ₹213.14 crore imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for alleged unfair business practices related to WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy update. Meta argues that the CCI’s case is based on hypothetical scenarios and fails to demonstrate any actual anti-competitive effects on the online advertising market. Meta contends the CCI incorrectly defined the relevant market too narrowly, excluding viable competitors like online search advertising and offline advertising, and ignored evidence from companies like Google and Amazon. The NCLAT (National Company Law Appellate Tribunal) is hearing Meta’s petition. WhatsApp argues that CCI lacks jurisdiction to decide on data safety issues. The CCI will present its arguments later in the week.
**News Article:**
**Meta Battles CCI Penalty in NCLAT Over WhatsApp Privacy Policy**
**New Delhi, September 16, 2025** – Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, is contesting a ₹213.14 crore penalty levied by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) over alleged anti-competitive practices stemming from WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy update. The appeal is currently being heard by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
Senior Advocate Amit Sibal, representing Meta, argued on Monday that the CCI’s case rests on speculation regarding future conduct and lacks concrete evidence of market harm. He asserted that the CCI failed to demonstrate how the privacy policy update, particularly the optional data sharing with Meta for features like Click-to-WhatsApp Ads, negatively impacted competition in the online display advertising market.
“The CCI’s entire case is based on future conduct and hypothetical scenarios,” Sibal stated before the NCLAT. “This falls short of the legal standard, which requires evidence of conduct that has already occurred or is currently occurring.”
Meta further argues that the CCI incorrectly defined the “relevant market” for online advertising, neglecting to include substitutes like online search advertising and offline advertising. The company claims the CCI disregarded testimony from competitors such as Google and Amazon, which would contradict the CCI’s narrow market definition.
Senior Advocate Arun Kathpalia, representing WhatsApp, has already completed his arguments, stating that CCI lacks jurisdiction to decide on data safety issues, and there is no change in the data sharing policy of 2021 from the privacy policy of 2016. The CCI is scheduled to present its counter-arguments on September 18th and 19th.
The NCLAT previously granted Meta a stay in January of this year, suspending the CCI’s five-year ban on data-sharing practices between WhatsApp and Meta for advertising purposes. The CCI’s original order, issued in November 2024, directed Meta to cease anti-competitive practices and implement corrective measures, including restricting WhatsApp from sharing user data with other Meta companies for advertising purposes for five years.
The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for data privacy regulations and the competitive landscape of the digital advertising market in India.
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