Ciao WhatsApp Data Privacy

The Facebook-owned messenger WhatsApp dropped the ball with Italian data chiefs when they recently changed the app’s privacy policy. 

The Italian data protection authority faced down the social media giant claiming recent privacy changes made it difficult for people to decide whether to drop the service.

Facebook disagreed and the firm contend it reserves the right to share some data, including location and phone numbers, with its units such as Instagram and Messenger.

The authority said in a statement: “The authority believes it was not possible for users to understand what kind of changes were being introduced, nor how data would be treated,” 

The Italian data authority said it would look carefully into Whatsapp’s policy disclaimer released on after February 8^th to assess its compliance with privacy data rules, adding it stood ready to urgently intervene.

A spokeswoman for WhatsApp said the company was looking into the authority’s position in relation to the updated privacy disclaimer. Serviceteam IT Director, Seb Jesson-Ward said: ‘It’s been quiet this month for Facebook. Firstly taking on the Australians over the use of news on its platform, and then publicly retreating. Clangers are coming thick and fast, it’s almost becoming habitual.’