The Irish Data Privacy Commissioner (DPC), the EU’s lead data privacy regulator, issued the fine after determining that WhatsApp did not meet transparency obligations from a December ruling, and did not clearly disclose how user data would be used by Facebook and other companies.
Messaging platforms are also hot, although I have just one item today: Netherlands-based Trengo has raised a $36 million Series A. Trengo combines customer and employee communications across multiple messaging channels, so it also plays in the equally-hot collaboration platform space.
A DNA test manufactured by BGI, a company that has now been found to conduct research for China’s military, has been used widely in 50+ countries. Now, health regulators in Canada, Slovenia, Germany, Estonia, and Australia have raised concern about data transfers and the company’s lack of transparency.
The U.S. Department of Justice has formally requested the sale of the Chrome browser among other measures following last August’s guilty verdict in its search advertising antitrust suit (not to be confused with last week’s guilty verdict in the adtech antitrust lawsuit). Google is asking for a much narrower focus on deals to be the default search engine for Apple, Mozilla and others. There will be a three-week hearing on the government’s proposals.