New Delhi, Jan. 27 -- The privacy row surrounding Meta's WhatsApp has triggered sharp reactions across the tech industry, with rival company executives seizing on the lawsuit to question the social media giant's handling of user data.

As allegations surface that WhatsApp messages may not be as private as claimed, high-profile figures such as Elon Musk and Zoho's Sridhar Vembu have publicly targeted Meta in a series of X (formerly Twitter) posts.

"WhatsApp is not secure. Even Signal is questionable," said billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday, urging netizens to use X chat instead. Musk acquired X in 2022, taking ownership of the platform and its messaging feature.

These remarks come after an international group of plaintiffs sued Meta Platf...