Germany data regulator acts to prevent data collection by WhatsApp News
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Germany data regulator acts to prevent data collection by WhatsApp

German regulators in Hamburg announced on Tuesday that they are seeking an order preventing Facebook from enforcing its new terms of service.

In January, Facebook announced that WhatsApp users in Europe must consent to data sharing between WhatsApp and other Facebook companies by mid-May. This change would expand the use of customers’ data to marketing and direct advertising. Currently, WhatsApp only uses customers’ data for product improvement, analysis and network security.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the German regulator may seek an injunction against WhatsApp’s new terms before the European Data Protection Board. Although Ireland is the primary regulator for Facebook under the GDPR, the Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information may seek an injunction as Facebook’s German operations are headquartered in Hamburg.

This is the second major regulatory action initiated by German authorities against Facebook. In 2016, Germany ordered Facebook to halt sharing data between WhatsApp and other Facebook companies. That order was challenged by Facebook, but upheld in trial and appellate court. However, starting in 2019, Facebook began integrating the messaging functions between three of its social media tools, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp.

WhatsApp justified its new terms of service on this integration, citing the need to share data to facilitate the cross-app messaging. German authorities claim that requiring WhatsApp users to share their data with other Facebook platforms like Instagram and Facebook Messenger will result in that data being subject to those platforms’ terms of service, which allow for the use of users’ personal information for marketing and advertising.

German regulators seek a result in their action against WhatsApp’s new terms of service by May 15, before the new terms of service are set to go into effect.

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