WhatsApp Privacy Policy Violates POPIA Compliance, Says South African Watchdog
Matilda
WhatsApp Privacy Policy Violates POPIA Compliance, Says South African Watchdog
South Africa’s Information Regulator (InfoReg) has issued an enforcement notice to WhatsApp, raising concerns over the company’s failure to comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). This latest action highlights the growing tension between global tech giants and local data protection laws, particularly in countries like South Africa that are striving to safeguard the privacy of their citizens. WhatsApp’s practices, which offer different privacy protections for European Union users compared to those in other regions, have come under scrutiny for violating local privacy laws. This article delves into the details of the enforcement notice, explores the implications for WhatsApp users in South Africa, and discusses the broader impact on data protection and privacy in the country. Background on WhatsApp's Privacy Policy Changes WhatsApp, owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), sparked a global outcry in January 2021 when it introduced an updated privacy policy. The policy…