Brussels: WhatsApp Facebook Inc.
on Monday faces a series of complaints by European Consumer Organizations and other people on the update of the privacy policy, which has pushed several global protests and leads some users to switch to telegram and rival signals.
WhatsApp in January introduced a privacy policy that allows it to share some data with Facebook and other group companies.
It is said that change allows users to send messages with business and will not affect personal conversations.
European Consumer Organizations (BEUC) and eight members criticize changes and submit complaints with the European Commission and the network of European consumer authorities, by saying whatsapp unfairly suppressed new policies.
“This notification content, the properties, time and recurrence they place undue pressure on the user and damage the freedom of their choice.
Thus, they are violations of the EU directives in unfair commercial practices,” Group said in a shared statement.
“WhatsApp has failed to explain in a clear language and can be understood the nature of change …
this ambiguity amounts to violations of the UE consumer law which requires companies to use clear and transparent contracts and commercial communications,” they said.
Facebook says BEUC has a wrong problem.
“BEUC’s actions are based on misunderstandings about the objectives and update effects for our service provisions,” spokesman said.
“Updates do not expand our ability to share data with Facebook and do not affect your message privacy with friends or family, wherever they are in the world.
We will welcome the opportunity to explain updates to clarify what it means for people.” Consumer groups urge the network of European consumer authorities and the UE data protection authority to work together to overcome this privacy and consumer rights issues.