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WhatsApps data sharing with Facebook: UK regulator to monitor new privacy policy
Posted on: 27/Aug/2016 4:50:27 PM
Prospecting for more relevant advertisements and friend recommendations, WhatsApp plans to start sharing users` phone numbers with Facebook.
Britain’s data privacy regulator said on Friday that it would monitor how popular messaging service WhatsApp shares data with parent Facebook Inc under a new privacy policy. The Information Commission’s Office (ICO) said while some users may be concerned by the lack of control provided by the updated privacy policy, others may consider it a positive.
WhatsApp has more than a billion users. It informed on Thursday that it would start sharing users’ phone numbers with Facebook, allowing for more relevant advertisements and friend recommendations on the social media network.
The ICO does not have the power to block such a move.
Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said that organizations do not need to get prior approval from the ICO to change their approaches, but they do need to stay within data protection laws.
WhatsApp informed that users could choose not to share account information with Facebook. The company said the change was part of its plan to explore ways for businesses to send messages using its platform.
WhatsApp’s new privacy policy mentions that when WhatsApp services are used with such third-party services, the company “may receive information” about the user from them. An example given is “if you use the WhatsApp share button on a news service to share a news article with your WhatsApp contacts, groups, or broadcast lists on our Services.”
WhatsApp informed earlier this year that it was experimenting making businesses pay to reach their customers through the service.
