WhatsApp fined nearly $270 million by Ireland for privacy breach

NEW YORK: Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging service was fined nearly $270 million by Irish authorities on Thursday for not being transparent about how it uses data collected from people on the service, in a case that represents a big test of Europe’s ability to enforce its landmark data privacy law. The 265-page decision is the first major ruling against Facebook under the European Union’s far-reaching General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, a three-year-old law that many have criticised for not being properly enforced. Irish regulators said WhatsApp was not clear with users about how data was shared with other Facebook properties like its main social network and Instagram. WhatsApp said it would appeal the decision, setting up what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle.