Safeguarding by Facebook of the privacy of European users of WhatsApp

25.1.2021

Priority question for written answer  P-000434/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Stéphane Séjourné (Renew)

The messaging service WhatsApp recently announced, then postponed, a change to its privacy rules. This has led to conflicting interpretations of the actual or potential implications of the change for members of the European public. When it bought WhatsApp in 2014, Facebook undertook not to cross-check data between its services for advertising purposes. In May 2017, the Commission fined Facebook for providing incorrect and misleading information on the matter.

• 1.In the Commission’s view, to what extent are the current and future privacy terms of WhatsApp consistent with the General Data Protection Regulation, in particular with regard to the possibility of users giving free consent? Does it have any evidence of European users’ metadata being passed on without their consent prior to 8 February?
• 2.If the Commission is not satisfied with the answers that Facebook provides, or fails to provide, or with the current and future terms of use, what does it intend to do? If it does not intend to take any action, why is that?

Supporters[1]

• [1] This question is supported by Members other than the author: Sandro Gozi (Renew), Fabienne Keller (Renew), Marie-Pierre Vedrenne (Renew), Bernard Guetta (Renew), Pascal Durand (Renew), Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (Renew), Dominique Riquet (Renew), Valérie Hayer (Renew), Laurence Farreng (Renew), Irène Tolleret (Renew), Stéphane Bijoux (Renew), Nathalie Loiseau (Renew), Sylvie Brunet (Renew)