Hamburg’s commissioner for data protection and freedom of information, Johannes Kasper, has taken measures to prevent WhatsApp from introducing a controversial privacy policy that allows user data to be shared with Facebook.
The German regulator is requesting an “immediately enforceable order” before May 15, until users will be forced to accept the new privacy policy or (most likely) stop using WhatsApp.
Facebook has received a strong reaction to WhatsApp’s new guidelines
On January 4th, WhatsApp announced an updated privacy policy that will allow the messaging platform to share some aspects of user data such as name, IP address, phone number and contacts with parent company Facebook.
After Facebook faced fierce resistance to these guidelines worldwide, Facebook delayed the implementation of the new guidelines until May.
The German regulatory authority fears that Facebook could misuse WhatsApp data
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The German commissioner fears that Facebook could use WhatsApp’s data to expand its marketing and advertising business.
According to the supervisory authority, the new WhatsApp data protection guideline is to be unlawfully enforced due to the lack of voluntary and informed consent.
The new measures aim to protect the pressure of illegal consent on millions of people while protecting their data.
This can encourage other countries to take action against Facebook
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According to Johannes, more people in Germany use WhatsApp than Facebook. The messaging platform has more than 60 million users in the country.
Therefore, the regulator believes it is imperative to ensure that the new data protection directive does not constitute “an abuse of the power of data”.
While it might only apply to residents of Germany, it could set a precedent for other countries as well.
The problems don’t seem to end on Facebook
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In related news recently it was discovered that WhatsApp has a huge flaw that anyone who knows your number can block your WhatsApp account.
Additionally, it was revealed a few days ago that Facebook had suffered two major data leaks, despite the company continuing to face strong backlash against the latest warning from its privacy policy.
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