Security News > 2021 > February > Tougher EU Privacy Rules Loom for Messenger, Zoom
Messaging apps such as Messenger or WhatsApp and video calls on Zoom face stricter privacy rules in Europe, after a draft law passed a key EU hurdle on Wednesday.
The EU's 27 member states approved a proposal that was stuck since 2017, with countries split between those wanting strict privacy online and others wanting to give leeway to law enforcement and advertisers.
Germany supported far more robust privacy rules, with fewer exceptions.
In the approved text, member states agreed that service providers are allowed "To safeguard the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences".
The proposal updates existing EU rules that date back to 2002, under which strict privacy protection is only applied to text messages and voice calls provided by traditional telecoms, sparing tech giants.
"We must now analyse in detail whether the proposals of the member states really contribute to better protecting the private communication of users online, or instead primarily serve the business models of some digital corporations."