Facebook no longer collects data from WhatsApp users in the UK
It seems that the complaints from users and, above all, from the Office of the Information Commissioner of the United Kingdom have borne fruit. Starting today, Facebook will stop collecting and using information from users of WhatsApp on that country, although it is not a final move. And it is that the investigations and investigation by this English body continues to elucidate for what purpose they want to collect said data and how they can protect the privacy of the user from these practices.
Through a publication, the information commissioner of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth Denham, has commented on what happened: “I had concerns that consumers weren't adequately protected, and it's fair to say that the research my team has done hasn't changed that view.I don't think users have been given enough information about what Facebook plans to do with their information, and I don't think WhatsApp has valid consent from users to share the information. I also believe users should have ongoing control over how their information is used, not just a 30-day window.”
After eight weeks of investigation, Facebook has had to give in to pressure from the public and organizations and pause data collection A process that began with notable complaints and concern from users of WhatsApp, who are unawareWhy does Facebook want data like your phone numbers, usernames, profile pictures, and status phrases , as well as the information of the last hour at which they were connected And it is that the reasons for Facebook, who affirms that with this it will improve what is shown to them on their social network as well as improvements in your products and services, are not enough.
Apparently, the Information Commissioner's Office not only wants to protect users, but also urges Facebook to sign an agreement agreeing to explain and clarify how it collects all this information and what it uses it forAn agreement that has not yet been sealed by WhatsApp or by Facebook Of course, If the social network begins to collect information from users of WhatsApp, the Office of the Information Commissariatfrom the United Kingdom would initiate enforcement actions against Facebook
For the commissioner, this problem goes beyond data protection, which is why they are in dialogue with the industry, competition regulators and consumer groups to try to protect people with the law.And it is that recently created companies such as startups and many other companies are accustomed to create true databases with all the informationthat users of their services offer, in many cases unconsciously.
Now we just have to wait and see if the complaints from Spanish bodies also interrupt the flow of information between Facebook and WhatsApp, since at the moment it only affects United Kingdom Other countries like France have also asked the social network for explanations, and have organizations trying to figure out what is done with the information of the users of WhatsApp
