(Bild: dpa, Martin Gerten)
Hamburgs data protection commissioner forbids Facebook to exchange or save data from German Whatsapp users. Already saved or exchanged data must be deleted.
In Germany around 35 million people use Whatsapp. The commissioner says that all user should be able to decide on their own if they want to connect their Facebook with their Whatsapp. Right now users were just able to not get personalized ads or friend suggestions. The mobile number was shared anyways.
Rough translation:
(A Facebook spokeswoman explained that the social network adheres to european law. "We are open to cooperate with Hamburg's data data protections agency to clarify their questions and to remove any concerns" If the data exchange between Whatsapp and Facebook will be stopped by now was left open by the spokeswoman.)
German data protection is very strong and will be. The personal rights of the individual will be nearly always more important than companies interests. This will be the first step to stop Facebooks plans for data gathering. We will see if the European Commision wil also take care of this case.
Source: http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Datenschutzbeauftragter-verbietet-Facebook-WhatsApp-Datenabgleich-3332833.html
Official Statement https://www.datenschutz-hamburg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Press_Release_2016-09-27_Adminstrative_Order_Facebook_WhatsApp.pdf