The Spanish authorities sanctioned with 600,000 euros (738,000 dollars) to WhatsApp and Facebook companies (300,000 each) for the transfer and processing of personal data of their users without consent.

The instant messaging company Whatsapp, which belongs to the social network Facebook, responded that it is "deeply" concerned about the privacy of its users, and will appeal the fine imposed by the Spanish Agency for Data Protection (AEPD).

In a statement, the agency said today that it detected two serious infractions of the national law that regulates this matter.

In the case of WhatsApp, for communicating data to Facebook without authorization from the user, and in the case of Facebook, for the treatment of this data for their own purposes.

The resolution of the AEPD concludes that the communication and treatment of information made by WhatsApp to Facebook do not meet the requirements of Spanish and European data protection regulations.

The Spanish agency recalls that WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook in 2014, and two years later the first updated the terms of its service and privacy policy, and introduced the exchange of user information.

The acceptance of these new conditions was imposed as mandatory to be able to make use of the messaging application, and the communication of personal data to Facebook was made without adequate information to users, who were deprived of the possibility of refusing these conditions, according to the AEPD.

In the case of those who already had installed the WhatsApp application, according to the statement, the company allowed to reject that the information provided could be used to improve the experience with products and advertising on Facebook, but not for other purposes.

It also forced them to accept the new conditions before a specific period to continue using the service.

New users did not have the option to refuse their data being transferred to Facebook for advertising or improvement purposes, and could not use the application if they did not accept the new conditions.

The AEPD reminds that, according to the Spanish Law on Data Protection, the communication of personal information requires the consent of the affected party, which must be free, specific and informed.

In turn, WhatsApp sources indicated that it collects "very little data" and each message is "encrypted from end to end".

They reiterated that they do not share or have shared data in the manner described by the Spanish agency "nowhere in Europe".

According to the same sources, the AEPD has proceeded to sanction without any evidence to support its conclusions that there has been an illegal exchange of data.

FUENTE