The icons of Facebook and WhatsApp are pictured on an iPhone in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. German antitrust authorities have issued a ruling prohibiting Facebook from combining user data from different sources. “In future, Facebook will no longer be allowed to force its users to agree to the practically unrestricted collection and assigning of non-Facebook data to their Facebook accounts,” cartel office chief Andreas Mundt said. In its order, the cartel office said it would only be allowed to assign data from WhatsApp or Instagram to Facebook if users consented voluntarily. “Users are often unaware of this flow of data and cannot prevent it if they want to use the services,” she told Reuters.

Source: The Telegraph February 07, 2019 12:56 UTC