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Facebook Ordered to Stop Collecting Data on WhatsApp Users in Germany

nytimes.com

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Re: Facebook Ordered to Stop Collecting Data on WhatsApp Users in Germany

#3

Post by Tomte »

Hamburg's data commissioner is influential because he is very active and outspoken (the previous one was even more so), but that also means that he's a bit fast and loose.

His opinions and rulings are not always held up by the courts, and the other states' data commissioners (there are fifteen more, plus a federal one) quite often don't agree with him.

Re: Facebook Ordered to Stop Collecting Data on WhatsApp Users in Germany

#5

Post by teamhappy »

throwawayReply wrote: post #2

How does this work, if I travel to Germany and use WhatsApp is Facebook compelled to delete all the shared data they have on me?

I guess that's Facebook's problem now. WhatsApp uses phone numbers as logins though, doesn't it? Shouldn't be too hard to map providers to different countries.

Re: Facebook Ordered to Stop Collecting Data on WhatsApp Users in Germany

#7

Post by smoyer »

Now things are going to get interesting! I completely understand the desire for privacy but I think it's unrealistic to expect that Facebook won't consolidate its data by user across all their applications. Facebook (and Google, etc.) are now in the same business as the credit reporting agencies ... You are their only product.

My hope is that the increasing outrage will drive users to one of the secure messaging applications.

Disclaimer: I have neither a Facebook nor a WhatsApp account.

Re: Facebook Ordered to Stop Collecting Data on WhatsApp Users in Germany

#9

Post by microtonal »

smoyer wrote: post #7

Now things are going to get interesting! I completely understand the desire for privacy but I think it's unrealistic to expect that Facebook won't consolidate its data by user across all their applications. Facebook (and Google, etc.) are now in the same business as the credit reporting agencies ... You are their only product. My hope is that the increasing outrage will drive users to one of the secure messaging appl…

Now things are going to get interesting! I completely understand the desire for privacy but I thinkmit's unrealistic to expect that Facebook won't consolidate its data by user across all their applications. Facebook (and Google, etc.) are now in the same business as the credit reporting agencies ... You are their only product.

The difference in this particular case is that Whatsapp made an explicit promise that they would not start sharing their data.

Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA, and we built WhatsApp around the goal of knowing as little about you as possible: You don't have to give us your name and we don't ask for your email address. We don’t know your birthday. We don’t know your home address. We don’t know where you work. We don’t know your likes, what you search for on the internet or collect your GPS location. None of that data has ever been collected and stored by WhatsApp, and we really have no plans to change that.

If partnering with Facebook meant that we had to change our values, we wouldn’t have done it. Instead, we are forming a partnership that would allow us to continue operating independently and autonomously. Our fundamental values and beliefs will not change. Our principles will not change. Everything that has made WhatsApp the leader in personal messaging will still be in place. Speculation to the contrary isn’t just baseless and unfounded, it’s irresponsible. It has the effect of scaring people into thinking we’re suddenly collecting all kinds of new data. That’s just not true, and it’s important to us that you know that.

Make no mistake: our future partnership with Facebook will not compromise the vision that brought us to this point. Our focus remains on delivering the promise of WhatsApp far and wide, so that people around the world have the freedom to speak their mind without fear.

https://blog.whatsapp.com/529/Setting-the-record-straight

Re: Facebook Ordered to Stop Collecting Data on WhatsApp Users in Germany

#10

Post by icantdrive55 »

I would like to see a federal Staute inacted regarding the collection of user data in the US. Enacted quickly!

Something on the lines of don't collect any data, besides name, password, email address. This information can never be sold.

I have weird feeling, in the near future, we will find that information/data has been abused. No just abused by marketing/big data, etc..

And I'm not even arguing about the obvious--personal privacy. Although personal privacy should be the number one reason for this hypothetical statute.

I have a feeling, it will be the next big financial insider trading scandal. It will involve people we talk about here-- Google/Bing/FB insiders(the ones who can see individual IP's, and their data.), took all that information, and traded stock upon it.

I have a hard time believing every email that Warren Buffet/George Sorrows/every sussessful trader makes isn't looked at by someone. And it's not just email; it collating search histories, in order to get a "feeling" of where the money to is to be made.

They are then using that info. to invest in stocks, bonds, real estate, etc..

And yes, they will claim we don't care about getting insider info. on investments--we make a killing selling the data to marketers. Why would we do such a thing? Because you can. I would have a hard time not looking at that information, and I don't have a penny to gamble.

I think it will be a huge story.

(Edit to a legitimate question about the poor websites that depend on advertising.)

Yes--I didn't bring up advertising. They could advertise like the old days, like newspapers did. They just couldn't target market their advertising--like they presently do at nausium. I still think they would make their nut. They would still be winners! And yes--I would pay for the right service, if they couldn't manage to compete by being hobbled with not targeted advertising. I paid for many websites before Google made advertising a science.

My post has nothing to do with advertising. I get advertising. Just leave my detailed, personal info. out of it.)

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