Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu outlined his company’s approach to users’ privacy and the limits of corporate responsibility on X (formerly Twitter) recently. In the post, he described three privacy cases – secret lover, use of personal data to show ads and secret rebel. He also emphasized that all companies must follow the laws of the country in which they operate. “Whether it is Google or Apple, when they operate in India, they have to comply with Indian law and likewise Zoho has to comply with US law when operating in America,” Vembu writes in the post. His remarks comes as the company’s messaging platform Arattai gains popularity, topping both Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Sridhar Vembu’s three faces of privacy

The first, which he called the “secret lover case,” refers to personal data, corporate trade secrets, and confidential information. He said Zoho designs its technology and products to protect such data and maintain strict privacy.The second, he said, involves the use of personal data for targeted advertising. Zoho has pledged not to use customer data to sell products or services, a practice Vembu said prevents a sense of violation and protects corporate confidential information from ad-related data-mining systems.The third, the “secret rebel case,” refers to situations where individuals may seek to challenge their governments.

What Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu wrote on X

On the topic of privacy, there are three distinct cases I want to address:1. The secret lover case2. The violation we feel when a company uses our personal data to show ads to us3. The secret rebel caseThe secret lover case also applies to org trade secrets and confidential data but “secret lover” is more catchy 😁 We work hard to ensure your privacy in case 1. Our tech stack and product are designed with this as a major goal. Let me come to case 2. By taking a vow to not use your data to try to sell you stuff, we protect you from that sense of distaste or violation. Our strong stand also ensures that corporate confidential data or trade secrets do not get leaked to those ad-related data mining systems.The secret rebel case is subject to the laws of the nations we operate in. Any company operating in a jurisdiction promising to protect a secret rebel against their own government is making a false promise. Sovereign power always prevails over mere companies. Whether it is Google or Apple, when they operate in India, they have to comply with Indian law and likewise Zoho has to comply with US law when operating in America.So while secret rebels can communicate like secret lovers do, secret rebels cannot expect courts to affirm their right to plot against their government.Our stand has been consistent on this matter. I have said these in our Zoholics events in many locations around the world for well over a decade.