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WhatsApp, the instant messaging client beloved of people too cheap to text, appears to contravene international privacy laws because of the way it forces users to grant it access to their entire address book.
Reuters reports that both the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Dutch Data Protection Authority have released reports explaining that the app violates privacy laws. They explain that the way the app takes control of the address book, commandeering all the phone numbers within — including both users and non-users of the app — is unlawful. Jacob Kohnstamm, chairman of the Dutch Data Protection Authority, explains:
“This lack of choice contravenes (Canadian and Dutch) privacy law. Both users and non-users should have control over their personal data and users must be able to freely decide what contact details they wish to share with WhatsApp.”
The agencies claims they will continue to monitor WhatsApp, and may even begin to impose penalties upon it if it continues to use the same model. So far there’s no word from WhatsApp about the allegations. [Reuters]
Image by Tischenko Irina/Shutterstock
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Couldn’t someone on your contacts just post your mobile online if they really wanted to? You don’t really have much of a choice if you share out your number.
That’s why no one has my number and my mobile is always off and so is my computer it is the only way to stay private and safe on the interwebs.
” the instant messaging client beloved of people too cheap to text”
In all honesty, I use whatsapp as its more efficient at sending messages/videos/pictures and also the group chat is really great.
I don’t think users who use whatsapp are too cheap to text, rather they’re clued up on a better service saving 10p a message
Not to mention international messaging.
come to think of it, that’s why mobile operators offer ridiculous amounts of free texts to try and get you on board knowing that alternative services such as whatsapp are available
Look, I just want the free messaging services, it’s a privacy trade off. Candians and Dutch can right F off!
I use Whatsapp and love it but I really don’t understand how it “commandeers phone numbers of non-users of the app”? People in my address book who have Whatsapp will have a Whatsapp icon next to their name. Those that don’t won’t. There is nothing I can do with non-Whatsapp users from Whatsapp. Also, Whatsapp does not prevent or stop anything from happening with those users so I can still SMS and call them just the same.
“WhatsApp, the instant messaging client beloved of people too cheap to text”
There are other reasons to use it too you know? Like text’s not being reliable enough and not getting enough of them in your monthly allowence.