Is the government already reading your WhatsApp chats? Despite the government’s denial, here’s what experts are saying

The new income tax bill, effective from April 1, 2026, allows authorized officers to access locked physical and digital spaces to search for any undisclosed income. Government provisions under the DPDP Act, Telegraph Act, and IT Act empower them to access such sensitive data for national security and law enforcement purposes. Experts weigh in on how this will impact your fundamental right to privacy.