Faizel Patel – 05/03/2021
The Information Regulator (IR) of South Africa says Facebook cannot share any contact information it collects from WhatsApp users in the country with its other properties without first obtaining authorisation.
In January, WhatsApp informed users it was preparing a new privacy policy, under which it could share some data, including location and phone numbers, with Facebook and its other platforms including Instagram and Messenger.
The regulator says it is concerned about the details users will face if they ignore Facebook’s terms by the May 15 deadline.
The regulator Pansy Tlakula says it has also raised concerns that citizens of the European Union will receive significantly higher privacy protection than people in South Africa, and Africa.
“We are very concerned about these different standards that apply to us; our legislation is very similar to that of the EU. It was based on that model deliberately, as it provides a significantly better model for the protection of personal information than that in other jurisdictions. We do not
understand why Facebook has adopted this differentiation between Europe and Africa.”
Tlkula says they have indicated to Facebook SA that it is willing and committed to have a round-table discussion regarding the issues raised to ensure that there is full compliance by the WhatsApp Privacy Policy with the provisions of POPIA and other policies
Meanwhile WhatsApp says is reviewing a letter by the regulator regarding its privacy policy changes that could see South African users being kicked off the platform.
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