Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has confirmed that the federal government is considering introducing a robust data protection law in order to protect the privacy of citizens.
The declaration comes days after WhatsApp announced that its terms and privacy policy, which will enter into force on 8 February 2021, will be updated.
On Twitter, the Minister stated that, before implementing such policies, WhatsApp should have consulted relevant stakeholders instead of adopting a unilateral approach.
WhatsApp updated its privacy policy last week, alerting users that they would have to agree to let their data, including their phone number and location, be collected by Facebook and its subsidiaries if they want to continue using the application after 8 February.
Digital rights activists have also expressed concern about the latest WhatsApp update, arguing that “Respect for your privacy is encoded in our DNA” was at the forefront of previous WhatsApp policies that can no longer be found anywhere.
