WhatsApp is fined $267 million for breaching EU privacy rules

Facebook-owned WhatsApp has been fined a record 225 million euros ($267 million) by Ireland's data watchdog (DPC) for breaching EU data privacy rules. DPC said the issues related to whether WhatsApp conformed in 2018 with E.U. data rules about transparency.

"This includes information provided to data subjects about the processing of information between WhatsApp and other Facebook companies," the Irish regulator said in a statement.

The ruling asked WhatsApp to both improve its transparency and bring the data sharing in line with the GDPR. The Irish agency initially planned to fine WhatsApp €50 million ($59.3 million) for breaking GDPR, but hiked the punishment after Germany and other countries accused the Commission of being lenient on privacy violations.

A WhatsApp spokesperson told CNBC the company plans to appeal.

"WhatsApp is committed to providing a secure and private service," the spokesperson said. "We have worked to ensure the information we provide is transparent and comprehensive and will continue to do so. We disagree with the decision today regarding the transparency we provided to people in 2018 and the penalties are entirely disproportionate," the spokesperson added.

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