The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has tax to WhatsApp a fine of 225 million euros for violating European privacy regulations. Specifically for hiding what personal data (and how much) it shares with Facebook.
In this way, the DPC considers that the company has been opaque with the information of the data transfers of its users, and therefore it has violated European regulations that protect consumers and their data.
The fine is the result of a 2018 investigation, in which the regulator sought to clarify the procedure that WhatsApp followed regarding its users’ data, and above all, its transfer to its owner company, Facebook.
This is the largest fine ever imposed by the DPC and the second largest sanction ever imposed on a company in terms of data protection within the new EU regulations.
One of the largest penalties imposed in Ireland for data protection
In addition, the agency has not only imposed the economic sanction on WhatsApp, it has also ordered the company to implement a series of specific corrective measures to better protect user data:
In addition to imposing an administrative fine, the DPC also imposed a reprimand along with an order for WhatsApp to make its processing comply with compliance by taking a series of specific corrective measures.
DPC
On the side of the messaging service, WhatsApp considers that it does not agree with the decision. In statements to be collected by the local media RTE, the company considers that the sanctions they are completely disproportionate. He has also confirmed that he will appeal the ruling:
We have worked to ensure that the information we provide is transparent and complete and will continue to do so. We do not agree with today’s decision regarding the transparency we provided to people in 2018 and the penalties are totally disproportionate. We will appeal this decision.
WhatsApp spokesperson.