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Privacy groups ask FTC to block Facebook-WhatsApp deal

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Re: Privacy groups ask FTC to block Facebook-WhatsApp deal

#2

Post by enscr »

The important part from the article is : "until there is a clearer understanding of how the company intends to use the personal data of WhatsApp’s 450 million users"

FB would be drooling over all the messages, pics & videos on Whatsapp. For person-to-person communication, I prefer a paid app over an ad-supported free one. If I wanted the latter, there are no shortage of options. I wonder how Whatsapp spells out the usage of personal data in their ToS.

Re: Privacy groups ask FTC to block Facebook-WhatsApp deal

#3

Post by pigscantfly »

enscr wrote: post #2

The important part from the article is : "until there is a clearer understanding of how the company intends to use the personal data of WhatsApp’s 450 million users" FB would be drooling over all the messages, pics & videos on Whatsapp. For person-to-person communication, I prefer a paid app over an ad-supported free one. If I wanted the latter, there are no shortage of options. I wonder how Whatsapp spells out the u…

I can certainly see how Facebook could monetize Whatsapp's data, but surely it isn't legal for them to retroactively change the ToS and examine the data, right?

Re: Privacy groups ask FTC to block Facebook-WhatsApp deal

#5

Post by luka-birsa »

pigscantfly wrote: post #3
enscr wrote: post #2

The important part from the article is : "until there is a clearer understanding of how the company intends to use the personal data of WhatsApp’s 450 million users" FB would be drooling over all the messages, pics & videos on Whatsapp. For person-to-person communication, I prefer a paid app over an ad-supported free one. If I wanted the latter, there are no shortage of options. I wonder how Whatsapp spells out the u…

I can certainly see how Facebook could monetize Whatsapp's data, but surely it isn't legal for them to retroactively change the ToS and examine the data, right?

I am quite certain that they are not allowed to retroactively change the ToS and access the data legaly.

That doesn't mean that they won't. Perhaps they will just do it behind the curtains, offering better Facebook Friend links.

Re: Privacy groups ask FTC to block Facebook-WhatsApp deal

#6

Post by stingraycharles »

pigscantfly wrote: post #3
enscr wrote: post #2

The important part from the article is : "until there is a clearer understanding of how the company intends to use the personal data of WhatsApp’s 450 million users" FB would be drooling over all the messages, pics & videos on Whatsapp. For person-to-person communication, I prefer a paid app over an ad-supported free one. If I wanted the latter, there are no shortage of options. I wonder how Whatsapp spells out the u…

I can certainly see how Facebook could monetize Whatsapp's data, but surely it isn't legal for them to retroactively change the ToS and examine the data, right?

Most ToS state that their terms are subject to change. I do not know whether or not a company has to explicitly state that the terms provided are perpetual, but there are lots of examples of companies changing their ToS retroactively.

For example:

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2008/09/google-on-chrome-...

http://boardingarea.com/viewfromthewing/2012/10/10/united-ma...

And here is an interesting paper about retroactive lawmaking by the government:

http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_Weie...

Re: Privacy groups ask FTC to block Facebook-WhatsApp deal

#9

Post by ejain »

pigscantfly wrote: post #3
enscr wrote: post #2

The important part from the article is : "until there is a clearer understanding of how the company intends to use the personal data of WhatsApp’s 450 million users" FB would be drooling over all the messages, pics & videos on Whatsapp. For person-to-person communication, I prefer a paid app over an ad-supported free one. If I wanted the latter, there are no shortage of options. I wonder how Whatsapp spells out the u…

I can certainly see how Facebook could monetize Whatsapp's data, but surely it isn't legal for them to retroactively change the ToS and examine the data, right?

Pretty much all ToS have a clause that states that the terms can change any time. Where services differ is whether they'll provide you with advance notice (or if you're expected to check for changes yourself!), and if you are able to close your account and have your data removed (I believe this is required in the EU).

Looking at http://www.whatsapp.com/legal/, it appears that WhatsApp falls into the "we can change our terms without letting you know" category, and I don't see anything about their data retention policy :-(

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