Facebook's privacy-invading WhatsApp user data dipping ends in Europe

Facebook has stopped using data collected from WhatsApp users to customize ads in Europe. The move comes after the practice was banned in Germany, and after the UK's Information Commissioner announced an investigation.

The social networking giant had already agreed to stop using WhatsApp data from users in the UK, but this has now been extended on a Europe-wide basis. Last month Facebook was on the receiving end of criticism from the Article 29 Working Party who complained about the invasion of users' privacy.

Like many technology companies operating in Europe, Facebook's European headquarters can be found in Ireland. The Irish Data Protection Commissioner is investigating data sharing between WhatsApp and Facebook, and indicated the company was -- temporarily, at least -- putting an end to the practice.

At the moment it is not clear whether Facebook will face sanctions if the results of several countries' investigations into data collection find evidence of wrong-doing. The UK investigation determined that Facebook had failed to obtain user consent for what it was doing.