EU Fines Facebook for Providing Misleading Information on WhatsApp Merger

The European Union imposed a $94 million fine on Facebook for providing wrong information regarding the 2014 merger of WhatsApp. In 2014, Facebook told EU that with the  take over of messaging service, WhatsApp, Facebook will not be able to match user accounts on two different platforms. EU Fines Facebook for Providing Misleading Information on WhatsApp Merger.

EU Fines Facebook for Providing Misleading Information on WhatsApp Merger

Out of utter shock, Facebook did exactly the same. The fine is imposed when European Commission came to know that Facebook had decided to link users profiles with WhatsApp phone number back in 2014. According to EU its a crime to make contradictory public statements at the time of the take over.

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Facebook revealed in a statement that the errors made were not intentional. It also conformed that the commission has also conformed that the statements have not impacted the outcome of merger inquiry.

EU competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager Said:

“Today’s decision sends a clear signal to companies that they must comply with all aspects of EU merger rules, including the obligation to provide correct information

EU clarified that the fine imposed on Facebook will not effect the merger. The commission must be able to take decisions about mergers’ effects on competition in full knowledge of accurate facts.

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