[Superfly_FR]

French Article : Donn�es personnelles : recours d�pos�s contre le rachat de WhatsApp par Facebook

Translated here (please PM if blatant errors, thx)

EDITED : please excuse the former misleading title (was : "French privacy groups to FaceBook ..." thanks, John), after research, seems that the two groups involved are not French. To clear this out, please follow this link : http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-576...whatsapp-deal/

Personal data : Claim against Whatsapp acquisition by FaceBook

What will Facebook do with WhatsApp ? That's what advocacy groups asking for privacy who filed a complaint with the FTC ( Federal Trade Commission ) , the Center for Digital Democracy and the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

By this action, they require a review of the operation and possible protection against " unfair and deceptive data collection practices" that could be implemented by WhatsApp and its future owner .
" WhatsApp has built a base of users based on the commitment not to collect data on its users for advertising purposes . Or Facebook uses information about its users for advertising . "
According to them, the risk is to switch WhatsApp " to a business model based on user profiling ."

The complaint is based on a message published in 2009 by the founder of WhatsApp January Kum on a blog. He stated that the service would "never [sell] your personal information to anyone ."
This is what questions these groups and analysts .
Why pay $ 19 billion for a company with no real business model? They concluded that Facebook will launch new features to make money .
At the moment, WhatsApp starts selling its service in some countries. Free the first year, then it costs a dollar a year.
Facebook announced last month its intention to buy WhatsApp , which has about 450 million users, for $ 19 billion .

Interesting, isn't it ?

[Ecm]

Nothing these two companies do surprises me.

[SmellWhole]

Maybe they'll just change the TOS and include some language to the effect of, "By continuing to use the service, you consent to the changes in this update."

[Superfly_FR]

Maybe they'll just change the TOS and include some language to the effect of, "By continuing to use the service, you consent to the changes in this update."

Yup, probably.
Then, they'll do the same with the "it's free forever"... ?

Posted via CB10

[MobileZen]

Thanks Superfly for this FYI and translation. Privacy awareness should be on the top of people's minds with the services they are using where Facebook and Whatsapp have a checkered past in this area.

Here's an interesting tool I believe was on 60 Minutes recently. See what's tracking you.
www.disconnect.me

Posted via CB10

[Superfly_FR]

Thx Mobile Zen, I'll have a look at it tomorrow (midnight + here).
Cheers
SF

Posted via CB10

[Sexy Sadie]

Very interesting.

[crackbrry fan]

FB and what's app,Google etc. Are NOT social communication platforms, they are a means to spy on individuals. When will people get this through their skulls? They were set up primarily for this purpose. The general public all go on there to post their life story and apparently also with recent reports will be posting their demise on those forums. Make no mistake this isn't an endearing app. It's keeping track of users and information gleaned is being stored. The question remains ,what are they going to do with it? Good luck to those who have "nothing to hide".

Posted via CB10