Supreme Court Rules WhatsApp Access Not a Fundamental Right, Suggests Alternative Apps

Oct 13, 2025 11:45 pm CST

The Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition seeking restoration of blocked WhatsApp accounts, ruling that WhatsApp access is not a fundamental right. Justices advised petitioners to use alternative apps like Indian-made Arattai and pursue remedies through civil courts rather than constitutional petitions, emphasizing that social media intermediaries are not state entities subject to writ jurisdiction.