WhatsApp announced on Monday that it was advertising to the status. Now the Irish data protection authority has announced that EU users will not affect EU users before next year.
The announcement of the advertising integration of the META subsidiary promptly caused concern for data protection organizations such as Nyob, reports politico. Above all, the aspect that Meta also wanted to use “advertising preferences and information” from the Facebook and Instagram accounts of the users if they are linked to WhatsApp, be seen critically.
Data protection officers see advertising in WhatsApp critically
In the announcement, Meta said that the new advertising functions “as data protection -oriented as possible” were integrated. In addition, the exchange of data between WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook would only take place if the users had agreed to link their accounts.
The Irish data protection commission, which is responsible for enforcing the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), has now told META, on Thursday to reporters that the announced advertising model in the EU will not be launched before 2026. “This new product will not be introduced on the EU market before 2026. We have been informed by WhatsApp and will meet with you to discuss further questions,” said Hogan Commissioner.
The Hogan also added that the advertising model should be discussed with other data protection authorities, “so that we can take into account all concerns that we have as European regulatory authorities”. A WhatsApp spokesman confirmed that the advertising model will also find its way into the EU: it was a “global update” that is gradually rolled out around the world.
It is not the first time that the Irish regulatory authority of Metas looks closer to product plans in the EU and delays the rollout of features: the AI model Meta AI appeared with a delay of two years after the US launch. The AI is now part of WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.
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