WhatsApp faces second inquiry in Turkey over new privacy policy

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The Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) has opened an ex-officio inquiry into WhatsApp's new privacy terms, which its users have to agree with in order to be able to use the app after February 8.

Evaluating the new privacy terms in terms of the legislation on the protection of personal data, the KVHH announced that it started an inquiry concerning conditions of data processing and transferring user data abroad.

Yesterday (January 11), the Competition Board opened an inquiry to determine whether WhatsApp's new privacy terms violate article 6 of the Law on Protection of Competition, which aims to prevent a company from exploiting its dominant position in the market.

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WhatsApp obligates its users outside of the European Union and the UK to agree with its new privacy policy, which it says is about its partnership with Facebook and processing users' data.

Many WhatsApp users in Turkey, as well as in the world, lashed out at the messenger and started moving to other apps, including Signal and Telegram.

Government officials in Turkey sharply criticized WhatsApp and recommended BiP, a messenger service by the Turkcell GSM operator, whose controlling stake is owned by the Turkey Wealth Fund (TWF), which is chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (HA/VK)