The German data regulatory authority has banned Facebook from processing personal data from users της εφαρμογής WhatsApp στη χώρα, αναφέροντας ότι η αμφιλεγόμενη νέα information of the application privacy policy is illegal.
The Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (HmbBfDI from the Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information) issued a three-month emergency ban on Tuesday, which is based on the General Data Protection Regulation. The German authority will seek a binding EU-wide decision from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB).
In a statement, the regulator expressed its concerns about the privacy policy of the WhatsApp application, which is expected to be released on May 15:
"The provisions for transport δεδομένων είναι διασκορπισμένες σε διαφορετικά επίπεδα της πολιτικής απορρήτου, είναι ασαφείς και δύσκολο να διακριθούν στις ευρωπαϊκές και διεθνείς εκδόσεις τους. Επιπλέον, τα περιεχόμενα είναι παραπλανητικά και εμφανίζουν σημαντικές αντιφάσεις. Ακόμη και μετά από στενή ανάλυση, δεν είναι σαφές ποιες συνέπειες θα έχει η έγκριση από τους users. Επιπλέον, η συγκατάθεση δεν παρέχεται ελεύθερα, καθώς η WhatsApp απαιτεί την αποδοχή των νέων διατάξεων as a condition for the continued use of the functions of the service. ”
So the regulator claims that the new terms of use are illegal.
Johannes Caspar, head of the authority, said the mandate was aimed at protecting the rights and freedoms of the nearly 60 million WhatsApp users in Germany. There were also fears that their data could be used to influence voters' decisions in the country's September federal election.
In response, Facebook said it was considering filing an objection to the ban. A WhatsApp spokesman said the order was based on a misunderstanding of the purpose and effect of the WhatsApp update and therefore had no legal basis. They also added that the order "will not affect the ongoing circulation of information".