US warns Facebook on privacy in WhatsApp mega deal
April 11, 2014  08:43

US regulators warned Facebook about making changes to the privacy policy of WhatsApp, the smartphone messaging service set to be acquired by the social network for a whopping $19 billion.        

 

The warning came as the Federal Trade Commission informed Facebook it had approved the deal, according to sources familiar with the review, allowing Facebook to go forward with its largest-ever acquisition and expand its footprint and mobile offerings.        

 

In a letter to both companies, the FTC noted that WhatsApp has made "promises" to consumers on protecting their data and that both companies have told consumers that after the acquisition, WhatsApp will continue its current privacy practices.        

 

"We want to make clear that, regardless of the acquisition, WhatsApp must continue to honour these promises to consumers," FTC official Jessica Rich said in the letter.        

 

Rich said that if the deal is completed and WhatsApp fails to honour these promises, "both companies could be in violation" of the law "and, potentially, the FTC's order against Facebook."        

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