WhatsApp digital payments: Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma cries foul, alleges Facebook arm-twisted UPI

New Delhi: Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma has alleged that Facebook-owned WhatsApp’s UPI payment platform has security risks for consumers and is not in compliance with the guidelines. WhatsApp, which has over 230 million users in India, has started testing payments through its platform in the country. India is the largest market for the messaging app. “We are just seeking an equal treatment. WhatsApp payment does not ask for log-in password, which is a huge security risk for consumers. While it (WhatsApp’s payment) is in beta testing, we don’t think there will be any changes added later,” Sharma told PTI. He alleged that Facebook had “arm-twisted” UPI to derive the benefit. In a tweet, Sharma had said, “After failing to win war against India’s open internet with cheap tricks of free basics, Facebook is again in play. Killing beautiful open UPI system with its custom close garden implementation.” Emails sent to WhatsApp for their response remained unanswered. [caption id=“attachment_3181406” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder, Paytm[/caption] According to sources, WhatsApp’s global business head, Neeraj Arora resigned from the board of directors of Paytm’s parent – One97 Communications earlier this month. Sharma, however, declined to comment on the development. “I am simply saying that India is an open internet economy and that there be a level-playing field,” Sharma said. Sharma’s comments drew various response from competitors. Bipin Preet Singh (co-founder of Mobikwik) refrained from naming Sharma but in a tweet said, “Those complaining abt Whatsapp are the same folks who refuse to entertain neutral payment options (like @MobiKwik) on their own ecom websites/apps and instead promote only captive wallets. A standard of interoperability should incl wallet acceptance as well”.

Those complaining abt Whatsapp are the same folks who refuse to entertain neutral payment options(like @MobiKwik )on their own ecom websites/apps and instead promote only captive wallets. A standard of interoperability should incl wallet acceptance as well 2/n

— Bipin Preet Singh (@BipinSingh) February 14, 2018

Singh of Mobikwik also said that only companies who got first and exclusive access to UPI when it was launched were complaining, not mentioning who these companies were.

All incumbents complaining about Whatsapp getting unfair advantage in its UPI implementation to further its business interests - “Those who live in glasshouses, ....... “ . There is clear record of private companies who got access first and exclusively when UPI was launched.1/n

— Bipin Preet Singh (@BipinSingh) February 14, 2018

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Kunal Shah, former chief executive of Freecharge, also tweeted: “All companies threatened by Whatsapp payments are going to tag it as anti national and try to pull it down as it’s hard to win on merit against network effects of Whatsapp”.

All companies threatened by Whatsapp payments are going to tag it as anti national and try to pull it down as it’s hard to win on merit against network effects of Whatsapp.

This strategy worked for Patanjali and wonder if it will work for payment companies.

— Kunal Shah (@kunalb11) February 14, 2018