Summary
This post provides a concise overview of significant privacy developments from October 2021. It discusses the Supreme Court of India's ruling that forced DNA tests violate the Right to Privacy and should be ordered only in exceptional cases. The post also covers the Federal Trade Commission's consideration of new online privacy regulations for consumer data in advertising. Additionally, it highlights WhatsApp's upcoming privacy feature for Android users, which will allow selective sharing of profile information. The content is authored by Rohan Joshua Jacob and Shabarna Choudhury.
This is a rundown of last week’s news updates on Privacy:
Forced DNA tests a violation of Right to Privacy, holds Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India has held that DNA Testing should be carried out only in deserving and exceptional circumstances and not ordered on a routine basis. The Court stated that subjecting or forcing an unwilling person to undergo a DNA test without his or her consent will in turn amount to a violation of the individual’s Right to Privacy and personal liberty. The Court thus concluded that while ordering DNA tests, courts must consider the interests of the parties involved on the grounds of legitimacy and guided by proportionality.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) contemplating new online privacy rules
The Federal Trade Commission is considering the formulation of new online privacy rules that could restrict the usage of consumer data by businesses for the purpose of targeted advertisement. The new rules would be a radical change to online advertising by imposing new obligations upon businesses regarding the management of consumer data.
New, unique privacy settings to be introduced by Whatsapp for Android users
WhatsApp is currently developing a new privacy feature for Android beta users. Presently Whatsapp provides straightjacket options for profile data sharing to ‘Everyone’, ‘My contacts’ and ‘Nobody’ without the option to pick and choose. But this upcoming new feature of “My contacts except” will enable users to choose individual or specified contacts from whom they intend to hide their particulars such as last seen, profile photo and status.
Authored by Rohan Joshua Jacob (Associate) and Shabarna Choudhury (Intern).