The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to Centre and social messaging app WhatsApp on a plea alleging lower standards of privacy for Indians in comparison to European users. The SC has asked the Centre and WhatsApp to submit responses within four weeks.

The top court said that people have grave apprehensions that they will lose their privacy, and it is our duty to protect them. “People value their privacy more than the value of company which might be in trillions,” the apex court told WhatsApp.

WhatsApp told the top court that Europe has a special law on privacy and it will also follow if India has a similar statute.