* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Elmira’s New Entertainment Venue ‘Centertown Social’ Adding its Final Touches – WENY News

    Elmira’s New Entertainment Venue ‘Centertown Social’ Adding its Final Touches – WENY News

    Bella Thorne Shows Off Her Toned Abs in Crop Top – Yahoo

    Bella Thorne Shows Off Her Toned Abs in a Chic Crop Top

    Bricktown continues to thrive as OKC’s entertainment district – OKC VeloCity

    Bricktown Shines as Oklahoma City’s Premier Entertainment Hotspot

    This Haunting ‘60s Country Song Is Even More Tragic Than You Remember – Yahoo

    This Haunting ’60s Country Song Will Break Your Heart All Over Again

    Arts/Entertainment: ‘Wait Until Dark’ brings spooky season center stage – Times Herald Online

    Wait Until Dark’ Delivers Chilling Thrills Perfect for the Spooky Season

    Bluesman James Montgomery Will Perform In Falmouth – CapeNews.net

    Blues Legend James Montgomery Ready to Ignite the Stage in Falmouth

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    DLG−Agrifuture Concept Winners 2025 announced – Visionary Ideas in agricultural technology recognized – TheNewsMarket

    Meet the Visionary Innovators Revolutionizing Agricultural Technology in 2025

    Spanning the Gulf: Global Defence Technology 155 – Army Technology

    Spanning the Gulf: Exploring Cutting-Edge Global Defence Technology

    A Nobel Prize for explaining when technology leads to growth – NPR

    Nobel Prize Awarded for Unraveling How Technology Drives Economic Growth

    Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary: How a technological marvel for trade changed the environment forever – The Conversation

    Erie Canal’s 200th Anniversary: How a Trade Marvel Transformed the Environment Forever

    Day 5 of Gains Streak for Solidion Technology Stock with 475% Return (vs. -20% YTD) [10/14/2025] – Trefis

    Solidion Technology Stock Rockets for 5th Consecutive Day, Soaring an Astonishing 475% Year-to-Date

    Tracking DNA and RNA Together To Unlock Disease Insights – Technology Networks

    Unlocking Disease Insights by Tracking DNA and RNA Together

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Elmira’s New Entertainment Venue ‘Centertown Social’ Adding its Final Touches – WENY News

    Elmira’s New Entertainment Venue ‘Centertown Social’ Adding its Final Touches – WENY News

    Bella Thorne Shows Off Her Toned Abs in Crop Top – Yahoo

    Bella Thorne Shows Off Her Toned Abs in a Chic Crop Top

    Bricktown continues to thrive as OKC’s entertainment district – OKC VeloCity

    Bricktown Shines as Oklahoma City’s Premier Entertainment Hotspot

    This Haunting ‘60s Country Song Is Even More Tragic Than You Remember – Yahoo

    This Haunting ’60s Country Song Will Break Your Heart All Over Again

    Arts/Entertainment: ‘Wait Until Dark’ brings spooky season center stage – Times Herald Online

    Wait Until Dark’ Delivers Chilling Thrills Perfect for the Spooky Season

    Bluesman James Montgomery Will Perform In Falmouth – CapeNews.net

    Blues Legend James Montgomery Ready to Ignite the Stage in Falmouth

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    DLG−Agrifuture Concept Winners 2025 announced – Visionary Ideas in agricultural technology recognized – TheNewsMarket

    Meet the Visionary Innovators Revolutionizing Agricultural Technology in 2025

    Spanning the Gulf: Global Defence Technology 155 – Army Technology

    Spanning the Gulf: Exploring Cutting-Edge Global Defence Technology

    A Nobel Prize for explaining when technology leads to growth – NPR

    Nobel Prize Awarded for Unraveling How Technology Drives Economic Growth

    Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary: How a technological marvel for trade changed the environment forever – The Conversation

    Erie Canal’s 200th Anniversary: How a Trade Marvel Transformed the Environment Forever

    Day 5 of Gains Streak for Solidion Technology Stock with 475% Return (vs. -20% YTD) [10/14/2025] – Trefis

    Solidion Technology Stock Rockets for 5th Consecutive Day, Soaring an Astonishing 475% Year-to-Date

    Tracking DNA and RNA Together To Unlock Disease Insights – Technology Networks

    Unlocking Disease Insights by Tracking DNA and RNA Together

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Technology

FCCPC probe found WhatsApp threatened to delete user accounts, collected excessive data

July 23, 2024
in Technology
FCCPC probe found WhatsApp threatened to delete user accounts, collected excessive data
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

On Friday, Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) handed down a surprising $220 million fine to instant messaging app Whatsapp after a three-year investigation alleged that the company’s privacy policy was “foisted” on users. Meta rejected the regulator’s decision, and Nigerians, who view such actions as shakedowns, received it with skepticism. 

The FCCPC has now shared a 116-page document detailing the charges against WhatsApp and Meta, the company’s rebuttals, and the investigative process. The core of the investigation is an updated WhatsApp privacy policy sent to users in May 2021. 

The FCCPC argues that WhatsApp did not allow users to opt out of the policy and presented them with a different privacy policy from European users. Meta deleted previous versions of the policy and attempted to mislead in its submission, the commission claimed,

Crucially, an early version of the policy, which was later deleted, told users they could either accept or be kicked off the social media platform, FCCPC showed. The commission found WhatsApp’s “my way or the highway” stance anti-competitive. 

While the commission cited WhatsApp’s market dominance—65% of Nigerian internet users are on WhatsApp, while 28% use Facebook, per an independent survey cited—it argued that even if it did not have such market power, WhatsApp’s actions violated customer rights. 

Why the 2021 privacy policy is a big deal

The 2021 update was sent to users through frequent pop-ups asking them to accept the privacy policy. While there was an arrow that allowed users to dismiss the pop-up, they could not opt out or reject the update. 

If users refused to update their apps, the pop-ups became more frequent, and many users lost the ability to read or respond to chats. 

The 2021 update, which told users it would share their data with third parties and Meta for marketing and profiling purposes, had important implications. One key change was that the 2021 privacy policy did not require the third parties it shared user data with to seek permission from the users.  

In Whatsapp’s 2019 and 2020 privacy policies, users were told their information would be shared with  third-party providers who were required to “use your information in accordance  with our instructions and terms or with  express permission from you.”

FCCPC says Meta treated Nigerians differently from Europeans

“[The] Privacy Policy essentially compelled [users] to waive their right to self-determination and control processing and use of their personal data, and object to the sharing of such data with third parties, including Facebook companies,” the commission said in its report. 

The commission found this particularly worrying because of the amount of data collected by the Meta-owned messaging app. “WhatsApp collects 44 metadata points, Signal collects 4, and Telegram collects 4.”

“Remarkably, Meta parties cannot establish there are any unique, or key features of the service that materially differentiates the services to a point where it is impracticable to provide the service offered without the collection of such additional data,” the FCCPC concludes. 

While Nigeria’s data protection laws offer a similar level of data protection as European laws, Meta failed to offer users in both jurisdictions the same amount of privacy protection or information on the metadata that they requested, the use of the metadata, and how to use WhatsApp without accepting the policy. An excerpt from the privacy policy shows that consenting users agreed for their data to be used for profiling and marketing. 

The commission found that in the European privacy policy, the word ‘consent’ is mentioned at least ten times, but only once in the Nigerian version. European users also had an entire section dedicated to their rights and consents, while Nigerian users did not have similar privileges. 

Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : TechCabal – https://techcabal.com/2024/07/22/fccpc-probe-found-whatsapp-threatened-to-delete-user-accounts-collected-excessive-data/

Tags: FCCPCprobetechnology
Previous Post

After hitting ₦2 billion in ticket sales in 2023, Tix Africa looks to Rwanda and UK

Next Post

HONOR 200 Lite to be available in Malaysia for RM1299

Iran Extends Internet Clampdown Beyond Wartime – The New York Times

Iran Intensifies Internet Crackdown, Extending Restrictions Well Beyond Wartime

October 17, 2025
US aims to raise $20bn ‘facility’ to support Argentina’s struggling economy – Al Jazeera

US Unveils $20 Billion Aid Package to Revitalize Argentina’s Economy

October 17, 2025
Elmira’s New Entertainment Venue ‘Centertown Social’ Adding its Final Touches – WENY News

Elmira’s New Entertainment Venue ‘Centertown Social’ Adding its Final Touches – WENY News

October 17, 2025
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tied to heart problems – Harvard Health

New Study Reveals Surprising Connection Between RSV and Heart Complications

October 17, 2025
Some Wisconsin lawmakers want paychecks withheld during gov­ernment shutdown, others don’t – Spectrum News 1

Some Wisconsin lawmakers want paychecks withheld during gov­ernment shutdown, others don’t – Spectrum News 1

October 17, 2025
Driving in circles – Economy and ecology – ips-journal.eu

Driving in circles – Economy and ecology – ips-journal.eu

October 17, 2025
RFK Jr’s Health Policies Are Helping China Defeat America in Science – The National Interest

How RFK Jr.’s Health Policies Are Shaping the Global Science Race-and Giving China a Leading Advantage

October 17, 2025
VIDEO: Gustafson House serves new role for Forensic Science – University of North Dakota

Watch Gustafson House Evolve into a Cutting-Edge Center for Forensic Science Innovation

October 17, 2025
Customizable Finger Brace Eases Rehab, Arthritis Care – Black Belt News Network

Revolutionary Customizable Finger Brace Transforms Rehab and Arthritis Relief

October 17, 2025
DLG−Agrifuture Concept Winners 2025 announced – Visionary Ideas in agricultural technology recognized – TheNewsMarket

Meet the Visionary Innovators Revolutionizing Agricultural Technology in 2025

October 17, 2025

Categories

Archives

October 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Sep    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (872)
  • Economy (894)
  • Entertainment (21,766)
  • General (17,652)
  • Health (9,935)
  • Lifestyle (906)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (894)
  • Politics (904)
  • Science (16,104)
  • Sports (21,393)
  • Technology (15,873)
  • World (877)

Recent News

Iran Extends Internet Clampdown Beyond Wartime – The New York Times

Iran Intensifies Internet Crackdown, Extending Restrictions Well Beyond Wartime

October 17, 2025
US aims to raise $20bn ‘facility’ to support Argentina’s struggling economy – Al Jazeera

US Unveils $20 Billion Aid Package to Revitalize Argentina’s Economy

October 17, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version