Nov 18 (Reuters) - India's competition watchdog directed

WhatsApp to refrain from sharing user data for advertising

purposes with other applications owned by Meta for a

period of five years and fined the U.S. tech giant $25.4 million

on Monday over antitrust violations related to the messaging

application's 2021 privacy policy.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) launched a probe

in March 2021 into WhatsApp's privacy policy, which allowed data

sharing with Facebook and its units, sparking global backlash.

"Sharing of user data collected on WhatsApp with other

Meta companies... for purposes other than for providing WhatsApp

service shall not be made a condition for users to access

WhatsApp Service in India," the CCI said.

Meta did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for

comment.

Tech giants, including Apple ( AAPL ), Google

and Meta face new regulatory challenges with India's proposed

EU-like antitrust law.

The Indian government is currently examining a February

report from a panel established by the corporate affairs

ministry. The report proposed a new "Digital Competition Bill"

to complement existing antitrust laws.

The U.S.-India Business Council, a key U.S. lobby group has

already opposed the move, fearing its business impact.

($1 = 84.3740 Indian rupees)