The SME Forum has requested the Supreme Court to allow Meta-owned companies to keep sharing user data. It said stopping data sharing would "cause substantial harm and hardship" to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This comes after the Supreme Court, on February 3, warned Meta might be banned from sharing data across platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The SME Forum said, "The applicant’s members, particularly MSMEs, would be directly and substantially affected by such orders or directions, as restrictions on data sharing for advertising would undermine their ability to reach interested customers effectively on Facebook and Instagram." It added that MSMEs often lack resources and rely on affordable tools from WhatsApp and Meta. These tools "enable MSMEs to compete more effectively with larger businesses at significantly lower costs." Meta is appealing a fine and restrictions from the Competition Commission of India (CCI). These were mostly upheld by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). The CCI has also filed an appeal on part of the NCLAT ruling. Meta has not yet commented on the SME Forum’s intervention. At a recent court hearing, justices questioned Meta's data privacy practices. Meta claimed users can opt out of data sharing, but judges doubted how clear this option really is. WhatsApp messages remain end-to-end encrypted, but its 2021 privacy update allowing cross-platform data sharing for business has faced strong criticism. The SME Forum said, "The Applicant respectfully acknowledges this Hon’ble Court’s efforts to protect the constitutional right to privacy of millions of Indian users and foster fair competition in the digital ecosystem." It urged the court not to ban data sharing until hearing all stakeholders. This would help balance the benefits and harms to both consumers and MSMEs, while considering the impact on India’s economy. With over 90,000 paying members, the SME Forum represents many MSMEs on policy matters. It noted, "MSMEs use online advertising platforms, including Facebook, to set up direct communication channels with their customers. This helps them develop strong relationships and understand customer interests." Despite limited skills, MSMEs use Facebook Ads and Google Ads with easy guides. They use templates and audience insights to run and adjust campaigns. Studies show about 70% of MSMEs use more than two online ad platforms, showing they smartly spread their digital presence.