225 million euros.

This is the record amount of the fine imposed by the Irish digital authority on Whatsapp, a subsidiary of social media giant Facebook, for violating European regulations on the protection of personal data.

This fine is the largest ever imposed by the Irish regulator and the second largest by a digital regulator in Europe, after that of 746 million euros against Amazon in July in Luxembourg for non-compliance with European regulations on private data Internet users.

At the end of a long investigation, the Irish data protection authority (DPC) "imposed a fine of 225 million euros on Whatsapp", and "also imposes a reprimand" on this subsidiary of Facebook, the pressing "to come into conformity".

The Irish regulator oversees Facebook on behalf of the EU, as the company has its regional headquarters in that country.

A survey started in 2018

The investigation started in 2018 focused on Whatsapp's compliance with its transparency obligations under European data protection rules (GDPR), in particular “on the processing of information between Whatsapp and other Facebook companies”.

After receiving the first conclusions from the Irish authority, the European regulator, which brings together the 27 national data protection authorities in Europe, asked the Irish authority last July to "carry out new investigations" and go further. in the proposed sanctions.

Seized in particular by the German authority after controversial modifications to the conditions of use of the messaging system, the European body wanted more information on the use that Facebook intended to make of the data of its subsidiary, and in particular on the possibilities of crossing related to the use of unique identifiers.

Whatsapp denounces "disproportionate sanctions"

The DPC noted in its decision "very serious breaches" of transparency and a "very significant lack of information" provided to the user.

"Failure to comply with the principle of transparency can undermine other fundamental principles of data protection" including "the principles of equity and accountability", further notes the regulator.

A spokesperson for Whatsapp on Thursday denounced "grossly disproportionate sanctions", indicating that the company would appeal.

“Whatsapp is committed to providing a secure and private service.

We have worked to ensure that the information we provide is transparent and complete and we will continue to do so, ”he added.

Complaints multiply

Complaints are growing against Facebook and the digital giants in Europe, even if the Irish authority is accused by activists of being too complacent and dragging its feet because Dublin benefits from tax revenues from many multinationals with their European headquarters in the country.

The Irish regulator "had proposed an initial fine of 50 million euros and was forced by the other European authorities to increase to 225 million euros", welcomed in a press release Max Schrems, figure of the fight for the protection of personal data and founder of the NGO "NOYB" (None of your business).

“We welcome this first decision from the Irish regulator.

But (the latter) has received around 10,000 complaints per year since 2018 and this is the first major fine, ”lamented Max Schrems, at the origin of a long standoff with the social network founded by Mark Zuckerberg.

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