Syed Imran Haider 
It is more than a month since WhatsApp agreed to clean up complaints about how it enforces terms of services on users. On the other hand, the European Commission has recently unveiled that the meta-owned messaging app has committed to enhancing the way it communicates to users and brings potential ToS updates.
Two years back, WhatsApp initiated a significant user counterattack following its act of pushing out a confusingly worded update to its ToS requiring users to adapt the update to keep using the messaging app without clarifying what exactly changed. The incident led to extensive confusion, driving some users quit the platform overall, with competitors like Telegram and Signal broadcasting an outpouring in acceptance.
Some members of the BEUC filed a complaint about the messaging app’s confusing ToS with the Commission, the EU’s executive. The organization also complained about the European network of consumer authorities. Accordingly, WhatsApp received warnings from the bloc, asking it to fix various issues. These problems included a letter when the Commission offered the messaging platform with an end-to-end encrypted or E2EE a month to organize its messaging to users. The Commission also asked the Meta-owned messaging platform to verify if it makes any money from commercial policies, especially those relating to user data.
Unprotected User Metadata
Although WhatsApp has E2EE message content, user metadata does not have the necessary protection and remains vague on how Meta might utilize the information. Given a former decision, the company made in August 2016 wherein WhatsApp founders abandoned a privacy pledge by saying it would connect their accounts with others through Meta-operated public social services, including Facebook. The decision potentially allowed the ad-tech giant to cross-link their digital activity with other company-owned social services to improve its WhatsApp users’ profiling.
Earlier this week, the Commission revealed WhatsApp confirmed it has not shared users’ private data with third parties or other Meta services like Facebook and Instagram for advertising.
While it is vague if the EU takes Meta at its word on the matter or plans to audit the claim, the digital media has asked if the company will go with any follow-up steps and update the report with any response.
The Irish Data Protection Commission had already declined to look into the issue regarding if WhatsApp uses users’ private data for marketing purposes. The Commission unveiled its final decision in January on an investigation related to the multi-year data protection of the platform. It happened despite the European Data Protection Board requiring the Meta-owned platform to do so. Regulators keep scrutinizing WhatsApp for the said operation.
WhatsApp Denies Allegations
The instant messaging app received another letter from the CPC Network in June 2022, repeating their request that WhatsApp ought clearly to inform the consumers about the company’s business model and whether it earns from commercial policies involving users’ private information. Meta discussed the matter with the Commission and the CPC Network and confirmed that it does not use users’ data for marketing purposes.
