By order of European regulators, WhatsApp will, from now on, clearly inform users about changes that the messaging app is implementing in its general terms and conditions. It must always be clear what changes and what the consequences will be.
There was earlier unrest among users when WhatsApp changed its terms and conditions in 2021, and people did not understand precisely what they would agree to. In addition, because WhatsApp is part of the same company as Facebook and Instagram, people were afraid that WhatsApp would soon share their data with those other social media. “We now know that this is not the case, but that was not immediately clear at the time,” explains a spokeswoman for ACM.
The issue was in the news more than a year ago. “WhatsApp must ensure that users understand what they are agreeing to and how their data is being used, especially when it is shared with partner companies,” European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders said at the time.
Subsequently, several regulators, including ACM, started talking to WhatsApp. In those conversations, the messaging app made multiple commitments. As far as ACM is concerned, this is the end of the matter. For example, the Dutch regulator does not consider it necessary to impose a fine. However, whether WhatsApp keeps its promises will be monitored in the coming period.
