The decision by Facebook to change the privacy policy of WhatsApp (an encrypted instant messaging client for smartphones) hasn't gone down well. Now, the data protection regulator of U.K. is taking action.

As WhatsApp changed its privacy policy that enables more data to be shared, the Information Commissioner's Office or ICO, a non-departmental public body, has asked Facebook and WhatsApp to make an explanation regarding the changes to customers. If Facebook and WhatsApp don't spell out their side of the story, the information commissioner has claimed that they could hand out a fine.

Information commissioner Elizabeth Denham, stated in the ICO's news blog that they have now asked WhatsApp and the social network company Facebook to sign an undertaking, and commit to explain to users how their data will be used, and will give customers ongoing control over that information.

After an investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office, the request was taken to Facebook, with that, the famous online social media Facebook, has agreed to pause the data sharing, Tech Crunch reported.

Denham said that they've set out the law clearly to the social network company, and they are pleased that Facebook agreed to pause using data from U.K. WhatsApp product improvement purposes or users for advertisements.

A spokesperson of Facebook stated that they hope to continue their detailed conversations with the ICO and other data protection officials, and Facebook remains open for collaboration to address their questions, according to The Guardian.

In spite of that, it was thought that the pause on WhatsApp's data sharing would only apply to the United Kingdom, regardless of how, it has been said that the pause will affect all of Europe.

Anyway, the social network company claims that not all data sharing has been put on hold. WhatsApp is still sharing data for some specific purposes, just like sending data to stop spam messages.

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Topics Facebook, Whatsapp