The UK’s data protection regulator has announced it is looking into Facebook’s plans to use WhatsApp customer data to within the social network
Privacy fears were raised earlier this week when a change in WhatsApp privacy policy revealed it users’ phone numbers would be passed to the parent company to inform ads and provide better friend suggestions.
Under the switch, WhatsApp users’ activity, such as when they were last seen using the app, would also be passed onto Zuckerberg.
Related: WhatsApp privacy fallout: How to stop Facebook stealing your user data
Mirroring the concerns of many Brits, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said it will monitor how WhatsApp data is shared with the Facebook.
Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said in a statement: “We’ve been informed of the changes. Organisations do not need to get prior approval from the ICO to change their approaches, but they do need to stay within data protection laws. We are looking into this.”
Denham said ICO planned to ‘pull back the curtain’ and ensure both Facebook and WhatsApp were providing users with the requisite transparency.
She added: “The changes WhatsApp and Facebook are making will affect a lot of people. Some might consider it’ll give them a better service, others may be concerned by the lack of control.
Plenty of users have objected to the plans, with many choosing to opt out and not to share the details with Facebook.
Here’s how you can ensure your phone number doesn’t get swallowed up by the Facebook monster.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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