Sharing messaging app data with social media may not be safe for all users on both parties. This is according to privacy experts who are currently investigating a ‘sharing user data' that took effect just recently.
WhatsApp was bought by Facebook back in 2014 for $19 billion which makes the latter its parent company. In August, WhatsApp disclosed that more data information will be shared. However, the European privacy watchdogs have cautioned the messaging app in regards to sharing user data with Facebook.
The changes that the messaging app made in its privacy policy leads the regulators to investigate further because they have "serious concerns" about it. The European privacy experts wrote a letter to the messaging firm asking to cease sharing data with Facebook until it's clear that the privacy rules is not breached, reports BBC News.
The privacy policy change was defended by the messaging firm stating that it would be "more relevant" if the users would see suggestions about whom they should connect with. Many have opposed to its privacy policy change since WhatsApp have previously assured that it will stay independent from Facebook. The decision provoked data protection federation across Europe to further investigate.
The collective association of data watchdogs, Article 29 Working Party said that there's a lot of work to get done to guarantee that there's no infringement of the regional rules governing privacy when information is handed down from one firm to another. When Whatsapp users initially signed up, the sharing of user data was not in the privacy policy which means that it could be a violation of the privacy rule.
"We've had constructive conversations, including before our update, and we remain committed to respecting applicable law", said a WhatsApp spokesperson. WhatsApp Messenger is a proprietary, cross-platform, encrypted instant messaging client for smartphones which needs internet connection to send text messages, documents, PDF files, GIF images, video, user location and audio messages. It was acquired by Facebook Inc.on Feb. 19, 2014.
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