SC dismisses PIL seeking ban on WhatsApp, other messaging apps

New Delhi: In a big relief for millions of WhatsApp users in the country, the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking a complete ban on the instant messaging platforms, incuding the popular messaging app.

Sudhir Yadav, a Haryana-based RTI activist, had filed a PIL urging the apex court to ask the government to seek the private key from WhatsApp and similar applications to access their contents in times of need.

However, an apex court bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice AM Khanwilkar asked the petitioner to approach the appropriate authorities.

Yadav said he was not asking for a ban on WhatsApp but wanted the government to ask WhatsApp and 20 other similar applications to share their private key if and when required.

He said this was similar to what the government insisted vis-a-vis BlackBerry.

Yadav said that in the absences of the private key, it would take the government years to access a message.

(With IANS inputs)