WhatsApp has been fined $266 million (29 billion) for failing to disclose how it handles personal data. This is a first under the streamlined European Union data protection laws.
The Irish Data Protection Commission said that the messaging app did not properly inform users on how it handles and processes data, and how it is shared with the parent company, Facebook.
WhatsApp was ordered to update its privacy policy to comply with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that governs how tech companies handle data in the EU. The GDPR, which came into effect in May 2018, delivered the ruling after investigating the messaging app.for two years.
Read: WhatsApp Reportedly Set to Make Policy Updates Optional
WhatsApp said it would appeal the ruling.
“WhatsApp is committed to providing a secure and private service. We have worked to ensure the information we provide is transparent and comprehensive and will continue to do so,” the spokesperson said.
We disagree with the decision today regarding the transparency we provided to people in 2018 and the penalties are entirely disproportionate. We will appeal this decision.”
WhatsApp received backlash at the beginning of the year after it sent out an alert asking users to accept the new policy changes or delete their accounts. The company recently rescinded on the threats saying that it would henceforth make updates to its policy changes optional for users.
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