The Data Protection Commission of Ireland (DPC) has imposed WhatsApp a fine of 225 million euros for violating European privacy rules.
Based on the results of an investigation opened in December 2018, the commission concluded that WhatsApp Ireland Ltd, the company’s Irish subsidiary, did not comply with the transparency requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
This is the largest fine ever imposed by the DPC and the second-largest penalty ever imposed on a company in terms of data protection under the new EU regulations.
The claims against WhatsApp primarily relate to how the messenger informs users about what it does with their personal information, including the procedure for transferring it to other companies in the Facebook family of applications.
WhatsApp criticizes the DPC’s decision. According to The Verge, a WhatsApp spokesman said, “We disagree with the decision today regarding the transparency we provided to people in 2018, and the penalties are entirely disproportionate.” WhatsApp said they would appeal the decision of the commission.
