Reservations are opening gradually before the full 2026 launch. Users can hide phone numbers, claim Meta-linked handles and use an optional username key to block first-time messages from people who do not know the code.
Several users raised concerns on X, Reddit and other platforms after WhatsApp Web and Desktop behaved unusually, with some saying that even Facebook login redirected them to Facebook pages, not WhatsApp chats.
Court called tweets prima facie derogatory and issued interim restraint without hearing defendants. Plaintiffs cited threats. OpIndia says order is not final and raises concerns about broad restrictions affecting independent reporting and public interest journalism.
Several Indian organisations depend heavily on Meta funding for survival. With payouts sharply reduced and uncertainty over global expansion of Community Notes, smaller fact checking outfits may be forced to downsize staff or shut operations.
The Supreme Court warned Meta to follow India’s Constitution or "leave the country" during a hearing on WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy. Chief Justice Surya Kant called the platform's data-sharing practices a "mockery of constitutionalism," vowing to protect citizens from commercial exploitation.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken strong action against the unauthorised sale of walkie-talkies on several e-commerce platforms. In a major move...