WhatsApp Slapped With ?1947 Crore Fine For Privacy Violations In Ireland
Bad news for Facebook-owned WhatsApp doesn't seem to stop coming in. Now, the messaging giant WhatsApp has been fined a record €225 million (?1947 crore) for data privacy infringements in Ireland.The fine was imposed by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) on Thursday, September 2.?
This marks the largest fine ever imposed by the DPC and also the second-largest penalty under European Union data laws.Besides imposing the hefty fine, the DPC also ordered WhatsApp to comply with EU data protection laws and to enforce corrective measures.?
What is WhatsApp's next move?
Ireland's RTE reported that Facebook-owned WhatsApp is currently planning to appeal the ruling and feels the fine is disproportionate. DPC is the lead authority on WhatsApp across the European Union.?
The initial probe was launched by DPC three years ago when new data protection laws were introduced by the EU.In the inquiry, DPC assessed whether WhatsApp was in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in terms of data.?
Also read:?WhatsApp Banned Over 3 Million Accounts In June-July: How To Avoid WhatsApp Ban
The regulation requires users of WhatsApp to be informed of how their data is used and processed by the company.Earlier, the DPC has proposed a smaller fine of €50 million, which was disputed by 40 authorities in the draft conclusion of the investigation.?
Deciding on the huge WhatsApp fine took time
The DPC was unable to reach a conclusion, after which the case was referred to the European Data Protection board (EDPB) in early 2021. The EDPB ruling was revealed in July-end, which the DPC is enshrined with enforcing now.?
In a statement, the DPC announced the fine amount on Thursday. Sadly for WhatsApp, the company had set aside only €77.5 million for a potential fine.
?The company has reiterated its commitment to privacy protection, but governments are increasingly wary of trusting tech companies.?
Also read:?WhatsApp Won't Force Users To Accept Its Privacy Policy: Here's Why
Facebook is also under the radar of antitrust agencies in the US and also faced a challenge in India after the introduction of new Information Technology rules that require companies to give information to the government about privacy guidelines, removal of content, and grievance redressal.?Last December, Twitter was fined €450,000 for a data breach in Ireland by EDPB.?
Also read:?WhatsApp Testing Message Reactions, New UI Colours In Beta Versions Of App
Do you think the fine is justified? Should companies like WhatsApp be held up to certain data protection standards? Let us know how you feel about WhatsApp in the comments below.?For more on tech, science and space, keep reading Indiatimes.com!
