German court blocks WhatsApp Web from sharing user data with Facebook
A Berlin court has ruled against WhatsApp Web in a long-running legal battle with Germany's Federation of Consumer Organizations (vzbv). The decision blocks the messaging service from sharing German users' personal data with Facebook. Consumer advocates have called the outcome a partial win in their push for stricter data protection.
The dispute centred on WhatsApp Web's 2016 privacy policy, which the court declared unlawful in key sections. Judges found that the company had pressured users into accepting updated terms. These terms allowed extensive data sharing between WhatsApp Web, Facebook, and third parties.
The ruling prohibits WhatsApp Web from transferring personal data—including that of non-users—to Facebook under the current consent model. However, the court rejected demands for WhatsApp Web to order Facebook to delete already shared data or prove its deletion.
Consumer groups argued that global tech firms must follow local privacy laws when handling sensitive communication metadata. While the judgment sets limits on data transfers, no specific changes to WhatsApp Web's consent process in Germany have been documented since the February 23 decision.
The court's decision forces WhatsApp Web to halt certain data-sharing practices with Facebook. But it stops short of requiring the deletion of previously transferred information. The ruling reinforces that consumer protection laws apply even to international corporations operating in Germany.
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