Advocates Slam ‘Degraded’ WhatsApp Privacy

Facebook should stop “intimidating WhatsApp users to accept extended data collection,” 28 advocacy groups wrote the company Friday. Led by Public Citizen, they claim the platform is manipulating users into accepting weakened privacy policies, which were to have taken effect Saturday (see 2105030058). Electronic Privacy Information Center, Fight for the Future, Access Now and Center for Digital Democracy signed. The intended business model “relies on extended data integration between WhatsApp and Facebook to benefit its own bottom line at the expense of user privacy,” they wrote. Facebook didn't comment.