WhatsApp blocks data sharing with Facebook across Europe
WhatsApp has temporarily blocked European user data from being shared with its parent company Facebook, amid an ongoing privacy battle across the continent.The sharing deal has been suspended to allow regulators to investigate privacy concerns and for Facebook to address the findings, according to the chief European regulatory body monitoring Facebook, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner's Office.For now, Facebook will only make use of WhatsApp data for the purposes of fighting spam, according to sources speaking to the Financial Times (paywalled).
After UK and Germany, WhatsApp stops data sharing across Europe
"We hope to continue our detailed conversations with the UK Information Commissioner's Office and other data protection officials,""We remain open to working collaboratively to address their questions."WhatsApp had its fair share of legal problems recently.Government officials in both the UK and Germany made the team behind the popular app stop sharing user information with its parent company – Facebook – due to security concerns.The messaging app shared information, such as phone numbers, photos, profile names and other user identifiable info with Facebook, so it can test new features for businesses.Naturally, watchdogs across the globe were not happy with the new WhatsApp Terms of Service and pushed for a change, despite the reassurances by the team behind the messaging app that information will be encrypted and unreadable by Facebook and WhatsApp employees.Now, the already infamous data sharing practice will probably be put on ice across the entirety of the EU, until the matter is resolved.Facebook officials told The Financial Times.Facebook's public image has taken a few hard knocks the past few months.
Facebook pauses WhatsApp data sharing under EU pressure
Facebook's attempts to put its association with WhatsApp to good use do not seem to be getting it anywhere.After regulators across the European continent cried foul over WhatsApp's new data sharing policies, the company is now moving to pause many of its policies that allowed it to share data with Facebook.The company will now attempt to clarify its position in hopes of reinstating them in the future.
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