FTC warning unlikely to stop Facebook from changing WhatsApp privacy policies
Despite pressure from the Federal Trade Commission, Facebook is unlikely to leave WhatsApp's stricter privacy policies intact, once government regulators approve the $19 billion acquisition, privacy experts say.
Late last week, Jessica Rich, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, sent Facebook a letter, warning the social network that it must abide by the privacy promises WhatsApp made to users of its instant messaging service.
"WhatsApp has made a number of promises about the limited nature of the data it collects, maintains, and shares with third parties – promises that exceed the protections currently promised to Facebook users," the letter said. "We want to make clear that, regardless of the acquisition, WhatsApp must continue to honor these promises to consumers."
