Just because they merge doesn't mean WhatsApp can switch over to Facebook's privacy rules without user consent.
The Federal Trade Commission has a warning for Facebook and WhatsApp: honor your consumer privacy obligations.
In a letter to the companies Thursday, FTC Consumer Protection Bureau Director Jessica Rich said the companies must not go back on privacy promises they made to customers following news of their $16 billion merger. After announcing the acquisition, the companies said they would not change WhatsApp policies that limit the collection and sharing of users' personal information with third parties - rules that "exceed the protections currently promised to Facebook users," Rich said.
