WhatsApp directors and nodal officers have reportedly been booked by the Gurugram Police for allegedly failing to provide information related to an investigation into a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy. According to an IANS report, the Gurugram Police, after obtaining permission from the competent authority, sent a notice to WhatsApp on July 17 through email and sought some information. However, WhatsApp did not provide the information and raised objections, also denying at least two subsequent requests that reportedly sought to emphasise the urgency of the matter.
As per an NDTV report, the case against WhatsApp invokes charges relating to disobeying an order issued by a public servant, concealing an offender to screen him from legal punishment and destruction of any document or electronic record that may have to be produced as evidence. Apart from the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, provisions of the Information Technology Act have been invoked as well in the case, filed on Saturday at the Cyber Crime East Police Station, Gurugram.
ALSO READ: Terrorist Killed In Encounter With Security Forces In J&K's Kathua
The police said WhatsApp’s behaviour was aiding the accused in this case, since the company hadn’t cooperated by providing the requested information.
In a statement, the police said WhatsApp was “legally bound” to provide the information requested, adding that the company had violated “legal instructions by not providing the information sought”.
According to the NDTV report, the messaging app, which has nearly 3 billion users globally, says it discloses "account records solely in accordance with our terms of service and applicable law". "Additionally, we will assess whether requests are consistent with internationally recognised standards. These include human rights, due process, and the rule of law," WhatsApp says on its website, as quoted in the report.