The European Commission and the European Consumer Network today urged WhatsApp, a digital instant messaging service, to inform consumers in the European Union (EU) about data policies and updates to its terms of service.
In a new letter sent today to Meta-owned WhatsApp, Brussels and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC) urge the company to “act to address remaining concerns about its terms of service and privacy.” . policy “. privacy updates and clearly inform consumers about its business model.”
In particular, WhatsApp is required to demonstrate how it intends to communicate any future updates to its terms of service and to do so in a way that allows consumers to easily understand the implications of those updates and freely decide whether they wish to continue using the service. after said updates”, those responsible point out in the letter, also urging the platform to clarify whether revenues from commercial policies related to user data are at stake.
Quoted by the note, the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, stresses that WhatsApp users must “understand what they are accepting” and how your personal data is used for marketing purposes.”
“I reiterate that I expect WhatsApp to fully respect the EU rules that protect consumers and their fundamental rights,” said Didier Reynders.
Last January, the community executive demanded that WhatsApp better inform its users about the use of their personal data, following changes made to the terms of service and privacy.
Recalling that the “terms of service updates made in 2021 were problematic for consumers”, the European Commission adds that, in response to the January letter, WhatsApp “demonstrated that it was providing users with the necessary information about these updates. ”, but said information was “considered insufficient and confusing for users”.
WhatsApp now has a month to prove to consumer protection authorities that its practices comply with EU consumer law.
In July 2021, following an alert from the European Consumer Organization and eight of its member associations, a dialogue was launched with the company regarding alleged unfair practices in the context of WhatsApp’s updates to its terms of service and privacy policy.
Under the leadership of the Swedish Consumer Agency and with the support of the European Commission, the action aims to find out how WhatsApp ensures that consumers can understand the consequences of accepting the new terms of service, how the company uses the personal data of users for commercial purposes and if you intend to share this data with other companies of the Meta group and also if it is possible to reject the new conditions of service.
Source: Observadora
