I don't think anyone here is unaware of WhatsApp. It is the top messenger app in the world. It has more than 1.5 billion users worldwide. It allows users to send text messages and voice messages, make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, user locations, and other content. So almost everyone is aware of this application. It has become so common that people nowadays ask for a WhatsApp number instead of a calling number.

But how many of you are familiar with the word "Traceability"

In general, Traceability means "The ability to trace all processes from procurement of raw materials to production, consumption and disposal to clarify when and where the product was produced by whom."

WhatsApp has defined this concept as "Some governments are seeking to force technology companies to find out who sent a particular message on private messaging services."

So, in short, the ability to track down all the messages you send and receive.

Not very long ago , the Government of India had demanded a new rule that stated, “Significant social media intermediaries providing services primarily in the nature of messaging shall enable the identification of the first originator of the information".

In simple words, it means that a platform like WhatsApp will have to make sure that it can trace any message to the person who had first sent it in case the courts or any “competent authority" seek such information.

However the Facebook owned WhatsApp urged the high court that the introduction of traceability will be a complete violation of users' right to privacy.

How does Traceability violate the Right to Privacy?

WhatsApp had brought in the use of end-to-end encryption in the year 2016. End-to-end encryption means, the messages, files, documents that you share can only be shared with the intended recipient and not anyone else. Not even WhatsApp.

And as you have read above, Traceability does the exact opposite of end-to-end encryption. Which obviously means, the traceability will break all the hard work that's done by the encryption.

Why is WhatsApp against traceability and how will it work with the law without traceability?

WhatsApp feels that the traceability will not work because even if you copy and paste somebody else's content or took a screenshot and reshared it then you will only be considered as the originator of the content. This will simply end up with innocent people being caught up in an investigation or in extreme cases, even sent to jail. In order to avoid this complexity, WhatsApp has decided to oppose the concept of traceability. Not only is it a violation, but also a serious matter of concern.

To trace the messages, WhatsApp has to maintain a huge database to store all the information of all the users. This seems to be really unnecessary along with the privacy violation.

However WhatsApp claims to respect the law and respond to valid requests from the law by providing a limited amount of information and try to help the law as much as possible.

Moreover the Government has many other means and tools to get any required information about anything. So this should not be a concern at all.

This is why WhatsApp strictly opposes the concept of traceability.

To know more about WhatsApp's traceability , Click Here.

To know more about Traceability and Cybersecurity, Click Here.