European Commission wants WhatsApp to communicate better about privacy policy

The European Commission, together with consumer organizations, has sent a letter to WhatsApp asking them to explain the 2021 privacy policy to consumers and to provide assurances that it complies with European consumer rights legislation.

Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, wants WhatsApp to ensure that its customers actually understand the changed terms of use. Reynders states in an official statement that WhatsApp customers must also be aware of how WhatsApp uses their user data and with which business partners the collected data is shared.

The Commission, together with the European Consumers’ Association and several other European consumer organisations, also wants to know whether the company complies with European consumer rights legislation. Those responsible at the popular chat service will have to demonstrate that their users are provided with ‘adequately clear information’, enabling them to effectively understand the consequences of their decision.

WhatsApp will have to demonstrate whether the in-app notifications they use to notify users of the renewed 2021 terms are a fair method. The top of the company will also have to answer whether or not their users have been given enough opportunities to learn the new terms used in the terms before accepting the terms. The European Commission expects an answer from authorized persons at the end of February at the popular chat application.

At the end of last year, WhatsApp added more explanation to its privacy statement. The chat service then began to provide more information about what data was collected and what data was shared with other parties. WhatsApp did so following the Irish GDPR fine of 225 million euros.