WhatsApp Temporarily Stops Sharing Facebook Info of Users in Europe

WhatsApp Temporarily Stops Sharing Facebook Info of Users in Europe. A source revealed on Tuesday that WhatsApp has temporarily deferred sharing Facebook information of users in Europe for ad targeting.

Talks with officials in Europe over the last few months lead to the social network deciding to only tapping into WhatsApp user data there for drives such as fighting spam, according to the source.

WhatsApp Temporarily Stops Sharing Facebook Info of Users in Europe

Also Read: Is WhatsApp Really Sharing Your Personal Data with Facebook?

The disruption was termed as an exertion to give regulators time to share privacy apprehensions and for Facebook to deliberate ways to address them.

German data protection authorities in September mentioned privacy concerns when they blocked Facebook from getting subscriber data from WhatsApp.

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

Hamburg’s Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Johannes Caspar informed at the time.

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

In August, WhatsApp revealed that it would start sharing information with Facebook. In a tender to permit enhanced targeted marketing and to combat spam on the platform.

Subscribers of the instant messenger were given the option to refuse sending information to Facebook through settings in WhatsApp’s applications on their smartphones.

European data protection group G29 officially articulated its concerns at the end of October. The G29 sent letters inquiring Facebook and WhatsApp to stop sharing data until proper authorized precautions were ready.

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

The European Commission in mid-September acclaimed more privacy and security requirements for services counting WhatsApp and Microsoft-owned video calling service Skype. Because they should be controlled more like customary telecoms.

Under the tender, the commission would entail companies like WhatsApp or Skype to offer emergency-calling services when customers dial traditional phone numbers other than following firmer privacy rules.

Also Read: Germany Bans WhatsApp Data Transfer to Facebook