South Africa WhatsApp Case Sees New Tribunal Rulings
New rulings have emerged in the South Africa WhatsApp case. The Competition Tribunal addressed several procedural applications. The dispute involves GovChat and Meta Platforms. Meta owns WhatsApp and previously operated as Facebook.
GovChat runs a citizen engagement platform.
It relies on WhatsApp technology for government-linked services. In 2020, WhatsApp warned GovChat about possible removal. The company cited alleged violations of its terms. Meta claimed GovChat refused to comply. It also said GovChat rejected offers of technical support. Claims raise data and competition concerns.
One concern focused on GovChat’s name. Meta argued it implied official government approval. According to Meta, GovChat lacked authority for some services. This, they said, could confuse users. Another issue involved personal data handling. Meta alleged GovChat collected sensitive citizen information. It claimed safeguards were missing. As a result, data sharing risks increased.
GovChat denied wrongdoing and sought legal help.
In November 2020, it asked for interim relief. The tribunal granted that relief. Therefore, WhatsApp could not remove GovChat during investigations. In March 2022, the Competition Commission escalated the matter. It formally referred the complaint for prosecution.
The commission found possible dominance abuse. Specifically, it said WhatsApp blocked access to its Business API. These latest rulings deal with procedural questions. They shape how the case will move forward. In addition, the outcome may affect other platforms. Digital competition rules remain under close scrutiny.
