An Indian appeals tribunal on Thursday temporarily halted an antitrust authority’s five-year ban on data sharing between WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta Platforms, for use in advertising across Meta’s other applications, such as Facebook and Instagram.

Meta is challenging the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) November directive, which imposed the ban on WhatsApp, arguing that the restriction would harm its business operations in India.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) suspended the ban while it considers Meta and WhatsApp’s appeal against the antitrust ruling.

The ban “may lead to a collapse” of WhatsApp’s business model, the tribunal noted in its decision.

In its appeal, Meta argued that WhatsApp might need to “roll back or pause” certain features in India and reduce its ability to provide personalized ads on Facebook and Instagram if the ban remains in effect.

A Meta spokesperson welcomed the interim decision, saying the company would “evaluate next steps.” The Competition Commission of India did not immediately comment on the ruling.

As part of the tribunal’s order, WhatsApp must offer users an opt-out option for its 2021 privacy policy update, in compliance with the antitrust authority’s November directive.