WhatsApp under scrutiny as Germany probes messaging apps

Facebook Inc.’s WhatsApp and different messaging providers shall be investigated by German regulators, who will verify how they deal with customers’ private data and whether or not having the ability to ship messages between totally different suppliers may enhance privateness.

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office mentioned on Thursday it opened a sector inquiry into messenger providers, citing potential violations of client safety legislation. It mentioned the probe may assist regulators “gain insight” into whether or not enabling apps to ship messages to one another may immediate customers to decide on providers that do extra to guard privateness.

“It is questionable whether and to what extent these services protect personal data,” Andreas Mundt, the regulator’s president, mentioned within the assertion. The probe will “also examine whether and to what extent improved interoperability could play a role in, for example, the consumers’ choice of suppliers which offer better data protection.”

WhatsApp is essentially the most used messaging app for Germans utilizing Android gadgets with greater than 7 million day by day customers, in keeping with Statista. Facebook’s Messenger follows with 2.eight milion day by day customers and Microsoft Corp.’s Skype has some 1.eight million day by day customers.

Facebook declined to right away touch upon the investigation.

WhatsApp solely shares restricted data with Facebook firms to assist establish customers and doesn’t share information that will support advert concentrating on on Facebook. The firm mentioned it’s going to solely share such information if it has approval from Irish privateness regulators, who govern Facebook’s enterprise in Europe.

Facebook was final a goal of the Federal Cartel Office over an antitrust investigation that targeted on how the social community tracks customers’ net use. Facebook earlier this yr misplaced a courtroom problem to the 2019 ruling that ordered it to cease freely accumulating and utilizing information and mixing it with customers’ Facebook accounts with out their consent.

The authority broke new floor by utilizing antitrust legislation to sort out information privateness. It has no energy below client legislation to order an organization to cease sure behaviour.