GoI asks WhatsApp to share user details to fight deepfakes, platform raises privacy concerns

WhatsApp stands as one of the most extensively used instant messaging applications nationwide, facilitating daily communication among millions of individuals across the country, connecting friends, family, colleagues, and more. Nonetheless, it remains an established fact that WhatsApp can inadvertently propagate deepfakes and spam messages, particularly in the lead-up to crucial events like elections. In the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Indian government is considering enacting a law that will mandate WhatsApp to share the origins of a message. It means they have to share the user details of the account that first sent a message. The primary objective behind this endeavour is to combat the proliferation of deepfake content on the platform. However, the corporation, which is now under the Meta umbrella, contends that such a requirement would compromise the privacy of its users, as they are committed to safeguarding the privacy of personal conversations that transpire on their platform. In response to this concern, a report by The Indian Express states that the government’s impetus for seeking information about the original message senders pertains to the prevalence of deepfake videos featuring politicians, a recurring issue on the messaging platform. To address this, the government may potentially issue orders mandating WhatsApp to reveal the identities of individuals responsible for the initial dissemination of such videos, in accordance with the Information Technology (IT) Rules of 2021. One senior government official stressed that the government’s stance transcends political affiliation, as the problematic videos in question depict deepfakes of politicians from various political parties. These manipulated videos pose a tangible threat to the electoral integrity of India, hence the intention to dispatch first-originator notices to WhatsApp. Notably, WhatsApp and its parent company, Facebook, had previously contested this provision in the Delhi High Court in 2021, citing concerns about privacy infringement and the potential for mass surveillance. Nonetheless, the government maintains that such measures will not disrupt the normal functioning of WhatsApp or adversely impact everyday users. In a bid to enhance user privacy, WhatsApp is also reported to be developing a new feature that would enable users to conceal their IP addresses during calls. This measure is designed to shield users from malicious threat actors. Presently, the feature is available to a select group of users in WhatsApp beta for Android and iOS, with plans to potentially extend its availability to all users in the future. The precise release date of this feature remains undisclosed at this time.