WhatsApp Agrees to Fully Comply with EU Rules

Following dialogue with EU consumer protection bodies and the European Commission (CPC network), WhatsApp has committed to being more transparent when changing its terms of service. Furthermore, the company will make it easier for users to refuse updates if they do not agree with them and will clearly explain when such refusal results in the user no longer being able to use WhatsApp’s services. Additionally, WhatsApp has confirmed that user personal data is not shared with third parties or other companies within the Meta corporation, including Facebook, for advertising purposes. The dialogue was coordinated by the Swedish Consumer Agency and the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, with the assistance of the Commission.

The CPC network sent a letter to WhatsApp in January 2022 following a warning from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and eight of its member associations regarding alleged unfair practices in the context of updating WhatsApp’s terms of service and privacy policy. In June 2022, the CPC network sent a second letter to WhatsApp reiterating the request for consumers to be clearly informed about the service’s business model, particularly whether WhatsApp generates revenue from commercial policies related to users’ personal data. After discussions among the CPC network, the Commission, and WhatsApp, the latter confirmed that it does not share users’ personal data for advertising purposes.

The Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) network will actively monitor how WhatsApp implements these commitments with each future update of its policies and, if necessary, ensure compliance, including the possibility of imposing monetary fines.

Furthermore, a recent study by the Commission and the latest review by the CPC network on ‘dark patterns’ have shown that many companies use ‘dark patterns’, making it more difficult to unsubscribe from a service than to subscribe to it. The CPC network, with the support of the Commission, will continue to strengthen its efforts to prevent such illegal practices.