WhatsApp

In January 2021, WhatsApp announced mandatory data sharing with Meta including metadata, phone numbers, IP addresses, contacts, and app usage data - removing previous opt-out option. Users had until February 8 to accept or face account deletion. Led to 4,200% spike in Signal downloads, Competition Commission of India investigation, and Rs. 213.14 crore (~$26M) fine for violating Competition Act. Policy discriminated against Indian users compared to EU users under GDPR protections. Delayed to May 2021 after backlash.

Between May 2017 and July 2018, misinformation and rumors about child abduction and organ harvesting spread via WhatsApp led to mob violence resulting in at least 29-40+ deaths across India. WhatsApp's lack of content moderation in its largest market (400M users, almost all mobile phone owners) enabled viral spread of false information. Company responded with forwarding limits, labels on forwarded messages, and $50K research funding, but only after sustained deaths and public pressure.

WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton departed Facebook in September 2017, forfeiting $850 million in unvested stock by leaving before his four-year vesting period. Disagreed with Mark Zuckerberg over monetization plans including ads and data sharing. Later revealed he was 'coached' to mislead EU regulators about data merging capabilities during acquisition approval. Stated 'I sold my users' privacy to a larger benefit. I live with that every day.' Tweeted #deletefacebook during Cambridge Analytica scandal in March 2018. Invested $50M in privacy-focused Signal app.