Zomato Responds to Privacy Concerns: CEO Confirms Users Can Turn Off Contact-Sharing Anytime

Zomato’s food delivery chief Aditya Mangla has clarified that customers have full control over the platform’s new restaurant contact-sharing feature, emphasizing that users can withdraw their consent whenever they choose. His statement, posted on LinkedIn, comes amid growing concerns about how personal data—especially phone numbers—might be used once shared with restaurants.

Mangla stressed that while Zomato allows users to opt out at any time, phone numbers already shared with restaurants cannot be taken back. The feature was introduced after restaurants requested a direct line of communication with their customers, but Zomato also built in controls to ensure users retain choice over their data. Mangla framed it as a balance between restaurant needs and customer rights.

To disable the feature for future orders, Mangla outlined a simple process within the app: users must head to their profile, open the “Hear from restaurants” tab, and select “Stop sharing now.” Once switched off, Zomato will no longer pass along the customer’s phone number for new orders, though previously shared information cannot be reversed.

Rolled out in early November 2025, the contact-sharing feature allows customers to receive promotional messages directly from restaurants they order from. Zomato says only phone numbers are shared—no other personal details—and only when users intentionally opt in. The company frames the feature as an early-stage effort to strengthen restaurant-customer connections while preserving transparency and user control.