WhatsApp Users Prepare for Advertising as Meta Announces Changes
Users of the widely-used messaging app WhatsApp will soon encounter advertisements, as announced by its parent company, Meta. This significant change is expected to be rolled out in the coming months, coinciding with the introduction of new features, as stated in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday. Meta, which also owns the social media giant Facebook and the photo-sharing platform Instagram, has seen its stock price surge by 25 percent on Wall Street following this announcement, as investors reacted positively.
Meta plans to use user data from Facebook and Instagram to tailor online advertisements for WhatsApp. However, this move has sparked criticism from privacy advocates. Max Schrems, head of the privacy group None Of Your Business (NOYB), criticized Meta for allegedly contravening European Union law. He stated that without clear, voluntary consent from users, linking personal data for the purpose of personalized advertising is illegal. Schrems has indicated that NOYB is considering legal action against Meta over this issue.
This backlash follows a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) last year, which restricted Meta's ability to process certain types of personal user data. Schrems and his organization have also submitted a complaint regarding Meta’s new subscription model, which requires users to pay a fee for an ad-free experience on Facebook and Instagram.
As these changes loom on the horizon, users are left contemplating how this will affect their experience on the messaging platform and the balance of privacy rights in the digital advertising landscape.
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