European telecom companies criticize proposed amendments to the privacy rules for WhatsApp and Skype

Yesterday, Thursday, telecom companies in Europe criticized the proposed amendments to the planned European Union rules governing WhatsApp and Skype applications, which would tighten the rules regarding Internet communication service providers (data).

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The prospective European Union rules govern WhatsApp and Skype to the same rules as mobile telecommunications service providers.

The 27 European bloc countries had struggled to find common ground on the online privacy regulation drafted by the European Commission in 2017, and the dispute focused on cookie rules that track users' online activities that are so important for targeted ads, and the dispute included consent requirements. For users to use these files.

Germany, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, shared its proposed amendments with other EU countries last Wednesday evening.

The document reviewed by Reuters reduces the legal basis for Internet communication service providers in processing data and using it for other purposes, in a blow to the telecom sector that is looking to use geolocation data in favor of smart transportation services as a potential source of profit.

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The German proposal has met with criticism from the ETNO lobbying group, whose members include Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and the GSMA mobile operator group. GSMA).

The companies said in a joint statement that "the text proposed by Germany fails to bridge the gap between protecting privacy and confidentiality and stimulating innovation among European service providers."

She urged other European Union countries not to support the proposal unless they allow them more freedom to use the metadata for legitimate purposes and for more appropriate treatment.

The European bloc will have to agree on a common position before the details of the rules are presented to the Commission and the European Parliament.