Irish data privacy watchdog fines WhatsApp 225 mln euros
WhatsApp said the fine was "entirely disproportionate" and that it would appeal
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland hit Facebook’s WhatsApp with a record 225 million euro ($266 million) fine on Thursday following an inquiry into the messaging app’s transparency around sharing personal data with other Facebook companies.
WhatsApp said the fine was "entirely disproportionate" and that it would appeal.
Ireland’s Data Privacy Commissioner (DPC), which is the lead data privacy regulator for Facebook within the European Union, said the issues related to whether WhatsApp conformed in 2018 with EU data rules about transparency.
"This includes information provided to data subjects about the processing of information between WhatsApp and other Facebook companies," the Irish regulator said in a statement.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement that the issues in question related to policies in place in 2018.
"WhatsApp is committed to providing a secure and private service. We have worked to ensure the information we provide is transparent and comprehensive and will continue to do so," the spokesperson said.
"We disagree with the decision today regarding the transparency we provided to people in 2018 and the penalties are entirely disproportionate," the spokesperson’s statement said.
