WhatsApp, the messaging app owned by Meta (the company Mark Zuckerberg runs), is in a bit of a fight with the Indian government.
India has a new law that says messaging apps need to be able to track chats and see who started a message. This clashes with WhatsApp’s security system, which scrambles messages so only the sender and receiver can read them. WhatsApp says if they have to change their system to follow India’s law, they might just shut down the app in India altogether.
There are a few reasons why WhatsApp doesn’t want to change its system. First, they say it would weaken security and make it easier for hackers to steal people’s messages. Second, it would mean storing a massive amount of data, which they worry could be a privacy risk. They also point out that no other country has a law like this.
Meta has asked India’s high court to throw out the new law, saying it’s unconstitutional. This is a big deal, because India has a huge number of WhatsApp users. If WhatsApp does leave India, it would be a major blow to both the company and the millions of people who rely on the app to stay connected.