Sina Technology news Beijing time May 11 evening news, it is reported that the German data regulator today issued an injunction prohibiting Facebook from continuing to collect data from WhatsApp users in Germany.
The three-month emergency ban was imposed by Johannes Caspar, head of Hamburg’s National Data Protection Agency. In addition, Mr Kaspar has asked a panel of EU data regulators to take action and issue a ruling across the 27 member states.
Under the new revised privacy policy, WhatsApp will share more data with Facebook, such as phone numbers, service-related information, IP addresses and transaction data. WhatsApp delayed the introduction of a new privacy policy earlier this year after confusion and user antipathy forced Facebook to reassure users of its commitment to privacy.
Hamburg’s state data Protection agency said last month that it would seek to block data sharing between WhatsApp and Facebook. Mr Caspar said today that the new WhatsApp terms were invalid because they were opaque, inconsistent and too broad.
“The order is designed to guarantee the rights and freedoms of millions of German users,” Caspar said in a statement. We need to prevent the damage and disadvantages associated with this black-box operation.”
WhatsApp said Mr Casper’s claims were wrong and that the injunction would not prevent the new terms. “The German regulator’s action is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose and effect of the update,” WhatsApp said in an emailed statement.
Earlier this month, WhatsApp posted a “privacy and security” post on its website urging users to accept the latest account policies and updates by May 15. Mr Caspar said Facebook may already be collecting data incorrectly and said it was vital to prevent misuse of the information to influence the German elections in September.