WhatsApp to add more details in privacy policy after Irish regulators' fine

 

WhatsApp is adding more details to its privacy policy and flagging that information for European users, after Irish regulators slapped the chat service with a record fine for breaching strict EU data privacy rules.

Starting Monday, WhatsApp's privacy policy will be reorganized to provide more information on the data it collects and how it's used. The company said it's also explaining in more detail how it protects data shared across borders for its global service and the legal foundations for processing the data.

WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, now renamed Meta Platforms. With the update, users in Europe will see a banner notification at the top of their chat list that will take them to the new information.

WhatsApp is taking the action after getting hit with a record 225 million euro ($267 million) fine in September from Ireland's data privacy watchdog for violating stringent European Union data protection rules on transparency about sharing people's data with other Facebook companies.

The chat service said it disagreed with the decision, but it has to comply by updating its policy while it appeals. The update doesn't affect how data is handled, and users won't have to agree to anything new or take any other action.

Ireland's Data Privacy Commission is the lead privacy regulator for WhatsApp under European Union rules because its regional headquarters is in Dublin.

WhatsApp was embroiled in a separate privacy controversy earlier this year when it botched a different update to its privacy policy that raised concerns users were being forced to agree to share more of their data with Facebook. That update sparked a backlash from users who switched to rival services like Telegram and Signal, an investigation by Turkey's competition watchdog, a temporary German ban on gathering data, and a complaint by EU consumer groups.

Read Complete Article


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Infinix Smart 2 review: 'Value for money' smartphone with tall 18:9 screen

Image
Transsion Holdings, a Hong Kong-based smartphone company, is one of the top five leading mobile phone manufacturer in India, according to recent report by IDC. The company is known for Infinix, Tecno, itel and Spice branded smartphones. It operates in affordable entry level and midrange segment. Under its premium Infinix brand, the company recently launched the Infinix Smart 2 , an entry-level budget smartphone with 18:9 aspect ratio screen and a large 3,050 mAh battery. Priced at Rs 5,999 for the base model, the Infinix Smart 2 is a feature-rich proposition in entry-level budget smartphone segment. It is targeted to consumers moving from feature phones to smartphones. The Android-based smartphone features dualSIM slots and 4G VoLTE-capabilities. Interestingly, the phone comes in two RAM and storage configurations – 2GB/16GB and 3GB/32GB. The premium 3GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 6,999. In terms of design, the Infinix Smart 2 offers no-frill design with a removable plas
Read more

Year in review: From OnePlus to Asus, best midrange flagship phones of 2019

Image
Best flagship smartphones 2019 : Affordable flagship smartphones are value-for-money products that offer top-notch specifications and features for a midrange price. In the past couple of years, this segment has been dominated by Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus. In 2019, however, other smartphone brands also got a toehold in this space with products that boasted specifications and features otherwise found only in premium smartphones. Here are top five affordable flagship smartphones (priced under Rs 40,000) that were launched in 2019: Asus ROG Phone II Asus ROG Phone 2Primarily a gaming-centric smartphone, the ROG Phone II from the stable of Taiwanese electronics maker Asus is an all-round smartphone offering the best of flagships at an affordable price. From an AMOLED screen with a high refresh rate to stereo speakers and high-capacity battery, this smartphone exceeds expectations and gives the best value for money in the midrange flagship segment. If there is any phone
Read more

OnePlus 8 review: Meaningful innovations elevate experience, justify price

Image
Smartphone makers now bring at least two models of each of their premium smartphones – one that maxes out on everything to show the maker’s innovation competence, and second that does not compromise on flagship specifications and features but cuts corners on some lesser features to keep the price low and reach the masses. The  OnePlus  8 belongs to the latter category of premium smartphones. A successor to the  OnePlus  7T, the  OnePlus  8 brings seasonal upgrades like Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 865 system-on-chip, big-capacity battery, new design and a screen with a punch hole for front camera. However, the company has downgraded the rear camera set-up of the OnePlus 7T by taking away the 2x optical zoom telephoto sensor. So, where does the OnePlus 8 in 2020 with all its upgrades, and a downgrade? Let’s find out: Design The OnePlus 8 has a minimalistic design and premium build. It retains the glass-metal sandwich design of its predecessor but brings new co
Read more