BACKGROUND:
As reported by BBC News, WhatsApp is rewriting its privacy policy as a result of a huge data protection fine earlier this year. Following an investigation, the Irish data protection watchdog issued a €225m (£190m) fine – the second-largest in history over GDPR – and ordered WhatsApp to change its policies.
Information Security Buzz (aka ISBuzz News) is an independent resource that provides the experts comments, analysis and opinion on the latest Information Security news and topics
<p>Data protection is at the heart of GDPR and fines such as this highlight that even with good lawyers, the rules need to be followed. Huge companies must up their privacy game; it is vital that organisations understand the risks and show the respect to their customers and their data by protecting it with all the available tools. </p>
<p>People often do not fully understand the risks themselves when it comes to privacy and can be quick to click on agreeing with terms and conditions. However, when their data is compromised or shared without full consent, the customer can be left picking up the pieces of a follow-on cyberattack or account compromise. People need to think twice when signing up to services, particularly when they are free, as this is a sign that they themselves are the product.</p>