WhatsApp privacy under threat as France and Germany push EU to allow states to break encryption
8 years, 6 months ago

WhatsApp privacy under threat as France and Germany push EU to allow states to break encryption

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The two countries plan to ask the European Commission to force technology companies to limit the encryption used to keep messages private. Allowing authorities to read any specific message also stops all of them from being fully private, they have said. He said that he and his German counterparts would ask the European Commission to limit encryption across the continent, at an EU summit next month. “We propose that the EU Commission studies the possibility of a legislative act introducing rights and obligations for operators to force them to remove illicit content or decrypt messages as part of investigations, whether or not they are based in Europe.” All the personal information you give away each time you 'like' a Facebook page Similar intentions have been announced by the UK government in the past.

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History of this topic

WhatsApp takes EU privacy board battle to top European court
3 months, 3 weeks ago

WhatsApp takes EU privacy board battle to top European court

The Hindu  

Meta's WhatsApp took its fight against the European Data Protection Board to Europe's highest court on Tuesday, saying it should be able to challenge a ruling that led to a 225 million euro fine by Ireland's privacy watchdog. The Irish data protection watchdog handed out the penalty in 2021 after complaints about WhatsApp's use of personal data in Ireland. WhatsApp …

‘Orwellian’: EU’s push to mass scan private messages on WhatsApp, Signal
9 months ago

‘Orwellian’: EU’s push to mass scan private messages on WhatsApp, Signal

Al Jazeera  

EU member states to vote on controversial Chat Control 2 proposals to scan communications for child sex abuse material. The European Union is considering controversial proposals to mass scan private communications on encrypted messaging apps for child sex abuse material. While EU officials have argued that Chat Control 2.0 will help prevent child sex exploitation, encrypted messaging platforms and privacy …

Signal opposes EU Chat Control law over message scanning
9 months, 1 week ago

Signal opposes EU Chat Control law over message scanning

The Hindu  

The encrypted-messaging app Signal has argued against the EU’s proposal in the Chat Control law to scan messages on encrypted apps. Signal president Meredith Whittaker posted an official statement from the company on X against the bill saying “scanning is the same old surveillance with new branding” and that this “undermines encryption” while “creating significant vulnerabilities.” The Chat Control law …

Why Did WhatsApp Threaten To Leave India? Encryption Clash And Amended IT Rules Explained
11 months ago

Why Did WhatsApp Threaten To Leave India? Encryption Clash And Amended IT Rules Explained

ABP News  

WhatsApp, the instant messaging platform owned by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta, made a bold statement during a Delhi High Court hearing asserting its stance against potential breaches of encryption. The discussion unfolded within the context of WhatsApp's challenge against the amended IT rules, a legal move prompted by concerns over privacy infringement. At the heart of WhatsApp's objection lay the contention …

Leaked Government Document Shows Spain Wants to Ban End-to-End Encryption
55 years, 2 months ago

Leaked Government Document Shows Spain Wants to Ban End-to-End Encryption

Wired  

Spain has advocated banning encryption for hundreds of millions of people within the European Union, according to a leaked document obtained by WIRED that reveals strong support among EU member states for proposals to scan private messages for illegal content. “Ideally, in our view, it would be desirable to legislatively prevent EU-based service providers from implementing end-to-end encryption,” Spanish representatives …

WhatsApp warns of ‘unprecedented threat’ to British citizens
1 year, 11 months ago

WhatsApp warns of ‘unprecedented threat’ to British citizens

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We oppose proposals to scan people’s private messages, and we’re proud to stand with other apps to …

EU privacy regulators eye AI privacy risks after Italy's ChatGPT ban
1 year, 11 months ago

EU privacy regulators eye AI privacy risks after Italy's ChatGPT ban

The Hindu  

Italy's move to temporarily ban ChatGPT has inspired other European countries to study if harsher measures are needed to rein in the wildly popular chatbots and whether to coordinate such actions. Generative AI, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, relies on algorithms to generate remarkably human responses to text queries based on analysing large volumes of data, some of which may be …

WhatsApp could soon be illegal in the UK, boss warns
2 years ago

WhatsApp could soon be illegal in the UK, boss warns

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The UK’s upcoming Online Safety Bill could force the app to weaken the end-to-end encryption that currently …

WhatsApp Has Started a Fight With the UK About Encryption
2 years ago

WhatsApp Has Started a Fight With the UK About Encryption

Wired  

The head of Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service has traveled to the UK to whip up a row with the government about end-to-end encryption. Speaking to journalists in London on Thursday, Will Cathcart did everything but compare the UK's proposed new internet law to the erosion of online privacy in countries like Iran, India, and Brazil. Cathcart says he is concerned …

Privacy Policy: SC Asks WhatsApp to Give Wide Publicity to Undertaking Given to Centre in 2021
2 years, 1 month ago

Privacy Policy: SC Asks WhatsApp to Give Wide Publicity to Undertaking Given to Centre in 2021

News 18  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed WhatsApp to widely publicise its undertaking given to the Centre that it will not limit functionality for users not agreeing to its 2021 privacy policy but will continue to remind users about the update, and “maintain this approach” till the proposed data protection law comes into effect. Observing that the matter needs consideration, a …

Ireland’s WhatsApp penalty highlights EU privacy turmoil
2 years, 2 months ago

Ireland’s WhatsApp penalty highlights EU privacy turmoil

Associated Press  

LONDON — Ireland fined WhatsApp for breaching strict European Union privacy rules in a case that has exposed divisions among EU watchdogs over how to regulate its parent company, Meta. In its final decision on the WhatsApp case, the commission also ordered the company to bring its data processing operations into compliance with EU privacy rules within six months. The …

WhatsApp Given Time Till July To Comply with EU Consumer Laws
2 years, 9 months ago

WhatsApp Given Time Till July To Comply with EU Consumer Laws

News 18  

BRUSSELS: Meta's WhatsApp has until July to show that a privacy policy update introduced in January complies with EU consumer law, the European Commission said on Wednesday, in a case prompted by complaints from consumer bodies across Europe. The European Consumer Organisation and the European Network of consumer authorities said WhatsApp had not explained the changes in plain and intelligible …

Europe's Digital Markets Act Takes a Hammer to Big Tech
55 years, 2 months ago

Europe's Digital Markets Act Takes a Hammer to Big Tech

Wired  

If America’s antitrust motto is “break up Big Tech,” Europe now has its own variation: “Don't break them up, break them open.” That was the advice Cédric O, France’s digital economy minister and a central figure in drafting the EU’s new Digital Markets Act, said stuck with him as he negotiated radical new rules that aim to tackle the power …

WhatsApp has until end of Feb to clarify privacy policy change, EU says
3 years, 1 month ago

WhatsApp has until end of Feb to clarify privacy policy change, EU says

The Hindu  

Facebook unit WhatsApp has been given until the end of February to explain changes to its privacy policy and whether this complies with EU consumer protection laws after complaints from consumer groups, the European Commission said on Thursday. The European Consumer Organisation and eight of its members took their grievances to the EU executive and the European network of consumer …

WhatsApp Is Adding More Privacy Updates To Comply With Irish Ruling
3 years, 4 months ago

WhatsApp Is Adding More Privacy Updates To Comply With Irish Ruling

News 18  

WhatsApp is adding more details to its privacy policy and flagging that information for European users, after Irish regulators slapped the chat service with a record fine for breaching strict EU data privacy rules. WhatsApp is taking the action after getting hit with a record EUR 225 million fine in September from Ireland’s data privacy watchdog for violating stringent European …

WhatsApp pushes privacy update to comply with Irish ruling
3 years, 4 months ago

WhatsApp pushes privacy update to comply with Irish ruling

The Hindu  

WhatsApp is adding more details to its privacy policy and flagging that information for European users, after Irish regulators slapped the chat service with a record fine for breaching strict EU data privacy rules. WhatsApp is taking the action after getting hit with a record 225 million euro fine in September from Ireland’s data privacy watchdog for violating stringent European …

WhatsApp pushes privacy update to comply with Irish ruling
3 years, 4 months ago

WhatsApp pushes privacy update to comply with Irish ruling

Associated Press  

LONDON — WhatsApp is adding more details to its privacy policy and flagging that information for European users, after Irish regulators slapped the chat service with a record fine for breaching strict EU data privacy rules. WhatsApp is taking the action after getting hit with a record 225 million euro fine in September from Ireland’s data privacy watchdog for violating …

WhatsApp fined $267 million by Irish watchdog for breaching EU data protection rules
3 years, 6 months ago

WhatsApp fined $267 million by Irish watchdog for breaching EU data protection rules

India TV News  

Ireland’s privacy watchdog has fined WhatsApp a record 225 million euros after an investigation found it breached stringent European Union data protection rules on transparency about sharing people’s data with other Facebook companies. The Data Protection Commission said Thursday that it was also ordering WhatsApp to take “remedial actions” so that its data processing complies with the EU rules. The …

WhatsApp privacy case must be decided in a month, EU watchdog says
3 years, 7 months ago

WhatsApp privacy case must be decided in a month, EU watchdog says

The Hindu  

EU privacy watchdog EDPB on Wednesday gave the Irish data protection agency a month to issue a long-delayed decision on compliance by Facebook's WhatsApp after its peers objected to its draft finding. The agency, which leads oversight of Facebook because the company's European headquarters are based in Ireland, has been investigating WhatsApp to see if it complies with transparency obligations …

WhatsApp CEO calls on governments, companies to take Pegasus makers to task
3 years, 8 months ago

WhatsApp CEO calls on governments, companies to take Pegasus makers to task

Live Mint  

Messaging giant WhatsApp’s chief executive officer, Will Cathcart, has called on governments and companies to ensure security of the Internet. The executive also took the opportunity to defend end-to-end encryption, a technology that has put his company at odds with governments worldwide, including India. While the company has since patched its app, the new investigation by various media outlets and …

WhatsApp faces EU consumer complaint over privacy update
3 years, 8 months ago

WhatsApp faces EU consumer complaint over privacy update

Associated Press  

LONDON — Facebook’s WhatsApp faces a complaint from European Union consumer groups who say the chat service has been unfairly pressuring users to accept a new privacy update in what it calls a breach of the bloc’s regulations. The European Consumer Organisation, or BEUC, filed a complaint Monday over the way WhatsApp has brought in changes to its terms of …

WhatsApp targeted in EU consumer complaints over privacy changes
3 years, 8 months ago

WhatsApp targeted in EU consumer complaints over privacy changes

The Hindu  

Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp on Monday faced a barrage of complaints by the European Consumer Organisation and others over a privacy policy update, which has prompted a global outcry and led some users to switch to rival apps Telegram and Signal. The European Consumer Organisation and eight of its members criticised the changes and filed complaints with the European Commission and …

Dutch consumer group joins int’l case against WhatsApp over privacy policy change
3 years, 8 months ago

Dutch consumer group joins int’l case against WhatsApp over privacy policy change

NL Times  

The Dutch Consumers’ Association filed a complaint against the messaging service, WhatsApp, in Brussels. The Consumers’ Association made the complaint together with seven other European consumer rights organizations and the umbrella organization BEUC. WhatsApp users are shown “recurring and intrusive notifications” that they must accept the app’s new privacy policy which creates unnecessary pressure and limits people’s freedom of choice, …

Ban Whatsapp If Non-Compliance With New IT Rules Continues: Plea Filed Before Kerala High Court
3 years, 9 months ago

Ban Whatsapp If Non-Compliance With New IT Rules Continues: Plea Filed Before Kerala High Court

Live Law  

A PIL has been filed in the Kerala High Court on Tuesday seeking directions to the Central Government to ban the operation of WhatsApp if it continues to deviate from the orders of the legal authorities in the country. Petitioner Omanakuttan K G, a software engineer, moved the Court citing national and public interest, alleging that WhatsApp did not function …

WhatsApp denies it will drop privacy update for Turkey users
3 years, 10 months ago

WhatsApp denies it will drop privacy update for Turkey users

Associated Press  

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s competition watchdog said Friday it was told by WhatsApp that the chat app won’t apply a controversial privacy update following an investigation, but the announcement was contradicted by the Facebook-owned app, which said it still plans to roll out the update for Turkish users. Turkey’s Competition Board, meanwhile, had launched an investigation into Facebook and WhatsApp …

WhatsApp installs fall over 40% as users download rival apps
3 years, 10 months ago

WhatsApp installs fall over 40% as users download rival apps

The Hindu  

WhatsApp’s app installs worldwide declined nearly 43% between January and April this year as several users considered downloaded Telegram and Signal apps, according to data by app analytics firm Sensor Tower. Privacy-focused app Signal’s first-time app downloads surged nearly 1,200% in the same period, compared to last year. The Facebook-owned company announced a contentious privacy policy update in January, triggering …

Delft city council drops WhatsApp in protest of new terms of use
3 years, 10 months ago

Delft city council drops WhatsApp in protest of new terms of use

NL Times  

City council members in Delft have decided to stop using Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp as a means of communication between each other, Omroep West reported. The majority of council members voted in favor of a motion to stop using WhatsApp following a lengthy debate on the issue on Thursday. WhatsApp insists personal communication and data will be private, and that …

WhatsApp User Data Collection Banned by Germany, Facebook Says Wrong Ruling
3 years, 10 months ago

WhatsApp User Data Collection Banned by Germany, Facebook Says Wrong Ruling

News 18  

Germany’s lead data protection regulator for Facebook is banning the social network from processing personal data from WhatsApp users because it views the messaging app’s new terms of use as illegal, it said on Tuesday. Caspar, who leads domestic oversight of Facebook under Germany’s federal system as its country office is in Hamburg, announced his decision before a May 15 …

German regulator bans Facebook from processing WhatsApp user data
3 years, 10 months ago

German regulator bans Facebook from processing WhatsApp user data

The Hindu  

Germany's lead data protection regulator for Facebook is banning the social network from processing personal data from WhatsApp users because it views the messaging app's new terms of use as illegal, it said on Tuesday. "This order seeks to secure the rights and freedoms of the many millions of users who give their consent to the terms of use throughout …

Germany will not let WhatsApp roll out its new privacy policy, should India follow suit?
3 years, 10 months ago

Germany will not let WhatsApp roll out its new privacy policy, should India follow suit?

India Today  

Tough road ahead for WhatsApp as Germany has barred Facebook from processing personal data from WhatsApp users. The country’s lead data protection regulator has also called WhatsApp’s new terms of service “illegal”. The Facebook-owned messaging app is set to roll out its new privacy policy and terms of service on May 15. WhatsApp’s privacy policy has caused massive confusion among …

Encryption Has Never Been More Essential—or Threatened
3 years, 11 months ago

Encryption Has Never Been More Essential—or Threatened

Wired  

Five years ago today, WhatsApp completed our roll out of end-to-end encryption, which provides people all over the world with the ability to communicate privately and securely. During the height of the global pandemic lockdown, end-to-end encryption protected people’s most personal thoughts when it was impossible to come together in person. The lessons of the past five years make it …

EU countries agree joint stance ahead of WhatsApp, Skype privacy talks
4 years, 1 month ago

EU countries agree joint stance ahead of WhatsApp, Skype privacy talks

The Hindu  

EU countries on Wednesday agreed to take a joint position in forthcoming negotiations with EU lawmakers and the European Commission on planned privacy rules governing Facebook's WhatsApp and Microsoft's Skype, ending a three-year impasse. While EU lawmakers quickly agreed a joint stance, the countries had until now failed to find common ground because of disagreements over rules for cookies, consent …

EU nations unite ahead of WhatsApp, Skype privacy talks
4 years, 1 month ago

EU nations unite ahead of WhatsApp, Skype privacy talks

Al Jazeera  

European Union members’ decision to take a joint stance in the privacy talks represents the end of a three-year impasse. European Union countries on Wednesday agreed to take a joint position in forthcoming negotiations with EU lawmakers and the European Commission on planned privacy rules governing Facebook’s WhatsApp and Microsoft’s Skype, ending a three-year impasse. The European Commission proposed its …

Why WhatsApp users in EU get more protection than those in India
4 years, 1 month ago

Why WhatsApp users in EU get more protection than those in India

Live Mint  

WhatsApp’s new privacy policy popped on my screen a lazy morning a couple of weeks ago, spreading its black-on-white legalese. The policy’s friendly voice announced that WhatsApp would share your user information with Facebook and its group of companies and reminded you that it was all so you could interact with businesses better. The contract that Indians and the rest …

Traders' Body Moves SC Against WhatsApp's New Privacy Policy, Seeks its Roll Back
4 years, 2 months ago

Traders' Body Moves SC Against WhatsApp's New Privacy Policy, Seeks its Roll Back

News 18  

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to instant messaging platform WhatsApp to roll back its recently-launched new privacy policy on the ground that it is violative of laws and can impact the country’s security. “The respondent no.1 — Union of India — has granted permission to respondent nos 2 to 4 to run the …

WhatsApp's separate privacy policies for Europe and India raise concerns
4 years, 2 months ago

WhatsApp's separate privacy policies for Europe and India raise concerns

India Today  

WhatsApp’s policy of rolling out separate privacy and data sharing policies for Europe and India has raised fresh demands for a stringent data protection law in India from legal and privacy rights experts. “The General Data Protection Regulation in Europe is a stringent and robust law protecting privacy and data of its people, unlike India where Personal Data Protection bill …

Turkey Suspends New WhatsApp Policy Rules, Opens Investigation
4 years, 2 months ago

Turkey Suspends New WhatsApp Policy Rules, Opens Investigation

ABP News  

Turkey's Competition Authority on Monday opened an investigation into Facebook and WhatsApp and suspended their new data-sharing rules. The online instant messaging application WhatsApp, last week forced its users to accept new privacy rules for sharing personal data with Facebook companies. The app could not be used unless the terms were accepted, the authority said in a statement.According to reports, …

Facebook, WhatsApp will be forced to share encrypted messages with UK police: Report
5 years, 5 months ago

Facebook, WhatsApp will be forced to share encrypted messages with UK police: Report

Firstpost  

This new rule is part of a new treaty between the two countries, which will reportedly be signed next month. Social media platforms based in the US, including Facebook and WhatsApp, will have to share encrypted messages with UK Police, according to a report by Bloomberg. In accord with the treaty, all US-based social media firms will have to share …

Encryption: The battle over government access to private WhatsApp and Facebook chats
5 years, 7 months ago

Encryption: The battle over government access to private WhatsApp and Facebook chats

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In doing so it undermines the promise of end-to-end encryption – the message can be read in …

India seeks access to private messages in WhatsApp crackdown
6 years, 1 month ago

India seeks access to private messages in WhatsApp crackdown

Hindustan Times  

-- India’s government dealt retail giants Amazon.com and Walmart a devastating blow this year with new policies undermining their growth plans. WhatsApp spokesman Carl Woog said the government’s demands run counter to the company’s privacy policies and compliance would mean ending the service’s privacy protections. It is absolutely evil.” WhatsApp spokesman Carl Woog said the government’s demands run counter to …

Govt seeks access to private messages in WhatsApp crackdown
6 years, 1 month ago

Govt seeks access to private messages in WhatsApp crackdown

Live Mint  

Bangalore: India’s government dealt retail giants Amazon.com and Walmart a devastating blow this year with new policies undermining their growth plans. It is absolutely evil.” WhatsApp spokesman Carl Woog said the government’s demands run counter to the company’s privacy policies and compliance would mean ending the service’s privacy protections. “If telecom companies like Airtel, Jio and BSNL are mandated to …

No more WhatsApp? How the proposed encrypted message access laws will affect you
6 years, 3 months ago

No more WhatsApp? How the proposed encrypted message access laws will affect you

ABC  

Australia's Government wants to pass world-first laws that would force technology companies to help police access encrypted messages. It proposes three key powers for law enforcement: A technical assistance request : Police ask a company to "voluntarily" help, such as give technical details about the development of a new online service A technical assistance notice : A company is required …

WhatsApp Dismisses Indian Government's Demand to End Encryption: What is at Stake?
6 years, 8 months ago

WhatsApp Dismisses Indian Government's Demand to End Encryption: What is at Stake?

News 18  

Numerous cases of lynching emerging from different parts of the country have put Facebook-owned chat platform WhatsApp in a tight spot with the Indian authorities. This basically meant to remove the end-to-end encryption that the chat app uses to retain the privacy of the content being shared on it by its users. “We remain deeply committed to people’s privacy and …

France is building a rival WhatsApp-like messenger service to minimise the risk of data breaches
6 years, 11 months ago

France is building a rival WhatsApp-like messenger service to minimise the risk of data breaches

Firstpost  

The encrypted app has been developed on the basis of free-to-use code found on the Internet and could be eventually made available to all citizens. The French government is building its own encrypted messenger service to ease fears that foreign entities could spy on private conversations between top officials, the digital ministry said on 16 April. None of the world’s …

France officially asks WhatsApp asked to stop sharing data with Facebook
7 years, 3 months ago

France officially asks WhatsApp asked to stop sharing data with Facebook

India TV News  

France's privacy watchdog has issued formal notice to WhatsApp, asking the popular mobile messaging app to stop sharing user data with the parent company Facebook within a month. The Chair of the National Data Protection Commission had asked WhatsApp to provide a sample of the French users' data transferred to Facebook. "As a result, the Chair of the CNIL decided …

WhatsApp asked to stop sharing data with Facebook
7 years, 3 months ago

WhatsApp asked to stop sharing data with Facebook

The Quint  

london, Dec 19 France's privacy watchdog has issued formal notice to WhatsApp, asking the popular mobile messaging app to stop sharing user data with the parent company Facebook within a month. The Chair of the National Data Protection Commission had asked WhatsApp to provide a sample of the French users' data transferred to Facebook. "As a result, the Chair of …

WhatsApp takes EU flak over sharing user data with Facebook
7 years, 4 months ago

WhatsApp takes EU flak over sharing user data with Facebook

The Hindu  

The European Union’s data regulator group has rapped WhatsApp for the “take it or leave it approach” it has taken regarding sharing of user data with the parent company Facebook. The taskforce has been set up by the pan-European data regulator, the Article 29 Working Party, a year after it first issued a warning to the chat app over its …

European Union privacy regulator raps WhatsApp for not resolving concerns of user data sharing with Facebook
7 years, 5 months ago

European Union privacy regulator raps WhatsApp for not resolving concerns of user data sharing with Facebook

Firstpost  

The group of EU data protection authorities in a letter to WhatsApp said the company had still not resolved its concerns about data sharing. European Union privacy regulators rapped WhatsApp on the knuckles for not resolving their concerns over the messaging service’s sharing of user data with parent company Facebook, a year after they first issued a warning. They noted …

'WhatsApp policies too weak to protect users from surveillance'
7 years, 8 months ago

'WhatsApp policies too weak to protect users from surveillance'

India TV News  

Despite WhatsApp's move to adopt end-to-end encryption by default for its billion users around the world, the policies of the instant messaging app are too weak to protect user privacy from governments, says a digital rights group's new report. Even tech giants such as Apple, Facebook, and Google can do more to fully stand behind their users, said the Electronic …

Google, Facebook and WhatsApp to face tougher restrictions when tracking you online
8 years, 2 months ago

Google, Facebook and WhatsApp to face tougher restrictions when tracking you online

Wired  

Messaging apps are under fire from the European Commission to protect the privacy of individuals alexsl/iStock The European Commission has proposed new legislation to ensure the stronger privacy of individuals when it comes to using online messaging services including WhatsApp, iMessage and Gmail. Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality said the new strategy will “facilitate international data …

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