Facebook Ordered to Delete WhatsApp User Data by German Regulator

Facebook Ordered to Delete WhatsApp User Data by German Regulator
Highlights
  • German regulator said Facebook was infringing data protection law
  • Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion two years ago
  • Facebook said that it complied with EU data protection law
Advertisement

A German privacy regulator ordered Facebook on Tuesday to stop collecting and storing data of German users of its messaging app WhatsApp and to delete all data that has already been forwarded to it.

The Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information said Facebook was infringing data protection law and had not obtained effective approval from WhatsApp's 35 million users in Germany.

(Also see: WhatsApp Is Going to Share Your Phone Number With Facebook)

"After the acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook two years ago, both parties have publicly assured that data will not be shared between them," commissioner Johannes Caspar said in a statement.

Facebook, the world's biggest social network, bought WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock in an effort to reach a younger audience.

"The fact that this is now happening is not only a misleading of their users and the public, but also constitutes an infringement of national data protection law," Caspar added.

Facebook, which has its German headquarters in Hamburg and therefore falls under Caspar's jurisdiction, said in a statement that it complied with EU data protection law.

"We are open to working with the Hamburg DPA in an effort to address their questions and resolve any concerns," it said.

(Also see: WhatsApp Directed by Delhi High Court to Delete User Data Collected Before September 25)

The data watchdog said Facebook and WhatsApp were independent companies that should process their users' data based on their own terms and conditions and data privacy policies.

The Hamburg commissioner's move comes after EU and US regulators said they would scrutinise changes to privacy settings that WhatsApp made in August.

© Thomson Reuters 2016

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: WhatsApp, Facebook, Encryption, Privacy, Apps, Social
Sony Reveals Android 7.0 Nougat Rollout Timeline for Its Smartphones
Share on Facebook Gadgets360 Twitter Share Tweet Snapchat Share Reddit Comment google-newsGoogle News
 
 

Advertisement

Follow Us

Advertisement

© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2024. All rights reserved.
Trending Products »
Latest Tech News »