Facebook fined $122 million by the EU over its 2016 WhatsApp Privacy Issues

In 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp messaging app. When EU approved the deal, Facebook claimed that it won't make any connection between Facebook accounts and WhatsApp accounts of individual users.

But in 2016, Facebook breached the agreement when it announced that it will be sharing WhatsApp user's data with Facebook. The announcement caused an outrage among many users and this lead to an investigation by European Union. Now Facebook has been fined $122 million for giving misleading information.

“Today's decisions sends a clear signal to companies that they must comply with all aspects of EU merger rules, including the obligation to provide correct information,” said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. “And it imposes a proportionate and deterrent fine on Facebook. The Commission must be able to take decisions about merger's effects on competition in full knowledge of accurate facts.”

The decision however wouldn't affect the approval of the merger but I guess this will go a long way in making sure that users privacy is taken very serious.