In addition, I vaguely remember something about the acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook to be only approved under condition that exactly this kind of data sharing would not happen.
Although I have my doubts about it happening soon, because the immediate impact it would have on real everyday life could by rather disastrous initially (something Facebook no doubt is aware of), the EU should probably declare/certify Facebook as a rogue/criminal organization. I just can't see it any other way, with Facebook's blatant disregard for anything but its own greedy interests.
If Facebook keeps pushing their "luck" like this, it should simply have all its assets on EU soil frozen. If eventually rules a criminal organization, confiscated too. It would be very sad and unfortunate for any EU citizens working for the company, who no doubt have no say in Facebook's criminal enterprise. But the current status quo is becoming completely unacceptable.
History has plenty of lessons, about criminal organizations rising to (hard to defeat levels of) power. In many cases more than anything because both societies and governments/authorities failed to respond appropriately in time, when they still had a fair chance containing those (with far less effort).
All that is even without opening the can of worms that is the access US government agencies have to all of Facebook's data.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/refo...
"If you don't live in the European Region, WhatsApp LLC provides WhatsApp to you under this Terms of Service and Privacy Policy."
That is to say, both options are bad. Of course it is conceptually better to spread your information over many separate information silos so that your data is harder to correlate. That should not be the bar we aspire to though.
99% of people outside of the HN bubble will just look at the dialog, click OK and carry on as normal.
I've used the Signal app and it's a bug fest. Telegram is not even encrypted by default and there is no option for encrypted groups.
Only if you trust Facebook with their proprietary software.
Same for the Apple (and others') taxes in Ireland: While the Irish have been told by courts and the rest of Europe to collect the taxes they are owed, they just refuse to do so.
The US sees FAANG as its babies and will protect them at all costs. Its up to the rest of the world to rein them in.
