Facebook’s plans to utilize WhatsApp as a means to acquire user data will have a lot of problems in the EU.

EU’s privacy watchdogs, headed by Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, recently stated that Facebook will have to face “additional action” over its usage of WhatsApp to acquire user data for its own purposes. She also stated that even though all services have not been merged into its own by Facebook, there is still some that occurs on a daily basis.

Facebook previously halted its policy shit after being warned by EU privacy regulators about its concerns regarding the sharing of WhatsApp data for uses that were not stated in the privacy policy and terms of service. Falque-Pierrotin has since stated that Facebook’s response to these concerns; however, need to be examined in detail.

Monetization on Whatsapp

Since Facebook bought WhatsApp back in 2014, it has come up with different strategies to monetize the platform. It was not until 28 EU privacy commissioners, also referred to as the 29 working party demanded that Facebook further explain its plans, so they can fully understand what is going on in the first place.

The social media giant responded by stating that any and all steps taken, comply with the law, and their service is fully explained in WhatsApp’s privacy policy.

Seeing how regulators fear for users, as Facebook has the ability to allow advertisers to directly approach WhatsApp users, it does not come as a surprise that EU privacy watchdogs do not want to take any chances whatsoever. Also, once EU watchdogs will gain greater fining power by 2018, Facebook along with many US internet-based companies won’t necessarily get away as easily as they do now.

Facebook’s Plan for Whatsapp Monetization Dead?

For now, Falque-Pierrotin is confident that patience will go a long way, even though the argument about Facebook’s plans for WhatsApp in terms of monetization is dead. She believes that the social media giant along with various others should take EU privacy laws seriously, but that will be difficult since such companies tend to fight back, as their survival may very well depend on it.