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Facebook just got an order from the German government to stop collecting the information of WhatsApp users in the country. This is in response to the recent announcement by the chat service that it would be providing Facebook with information on users so that the biggest social media company in the world can make money off it.
The announcement by WhatsApp to give Facebook access to user data a month ago was met with shock and harsh criticism. This was largely because it basically broke its promise not to share user data with Facebook when it was first acquired for $19 billion by the latter. Facebook agreed to this condition as well, which put the minds of users at ease at the time. By reneging on its promises, the social network and the popular messaging app violated Germany’s data protection law, Tech Crunch reports.
Germany’s DPA released a statement about its decision to force Facebook’s data mining activities to stop, with Commissioner Johannes Caspar stating that the social network does not have the permission of WhatsApp users. The order also includes the demand to delete the information that Facebook had already gathered from 35 million German WhatsApp users.
“The arrangement protects the data of about 35 million WhatsApp users in Germany,” the order reads when translated into English. “It has to be their respective decision whether they want to connect their account with Facebook. This requires Facebook to ask permission beforehand. This has not happened.”
Following this move by Germany, other countries in Europe might follow suit. Privacy watchdogs in France are already following the situation with WhatsApp closely, The Verge reports. Britain’s Information Commission's Office is doing the same, though the ICO has no power to block or even regulate any move by Facebook to data mine users in the UK.
When asked about the situation, a spokesperson for Facebook said that the social network is complying with Germany’s orders for now. The social media giant is planning to appeal the decision.
