Germany Bans WhatsApp Data Transfer to Facebook

German data protection authorities has blocked Facebook from collecting subscriber data from its subsidiary WhatsApp, citing privacy concerns. Germany Bans WhatsApp Data Transfer to Facebook. Therefore, the WhatsApp data will be remained secure and Facebook will not have access on it

In the wake of the Silicon Valley giant’s 2014 acquisition of the messaging app, Facebook and WhatsApp had promised not to share their data. Hamburg’s Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Johannes Caspar recalled this statement.

Germany Bans WhatsApp Data Transfer to Facebook

He also added that Facebook will delete any data already received from WhatsApp in Germany.

“It has to be (the users’) decision whether they want to connect their account with Facebook,”

Caspar said.

“Facebook has to ask for their permission in advance.”

In August, WhatsApp announced that it would begin sharing data with Facebook. Further, WhatsApp took this step to allow better targeted advertising and fight spam on the platform.

Moreover, WhatsApp users can stop sharing their information with Facebook through WhatsApp’s settings on their smartphone.

Caspar Further said:

sharing of data between the two companies was an infringement of German data protection law. That’s because Facebook had not obtained effective approval from Germany’s 35 million WhatsApp users. The watchdog added that millions of people whose contact details had been uploaded to WhatsApp could now have that information shared with Facebook against their will.

Also Read: Facebook and WhatsApp Most Popular Apps Among Pakistani Youth

Hamburg subsidiary manges the Facebook’s activities in German-speaking regions. However, the commissioner’s decision affects only WhatsApp users in Germany.

In a response, Facebook said it was ready to cooperate with the German authorities.

“Facebook complies with EU data protection law. We are open to working with the Hamburg DPA in an effort to address their questions and resolve any concerns,”

WhatsApp’s announcement that it would share information with Facebook came just four months after the service introduced end-to-end encryption by default. However, according to this encryption, only sender and receiver can read the messages.

For More Information Please Read: WhatsApp to Share Users’ Information with Facebook