In this YouTube monologue, the presenter reports that Ireland's Data Protection Commission has imposed a record €225 million (≈$200 million) fine on WhatsApp for alleged GDPR violations related to insufficient transparency about data processing. The speaker outlines the background of the investigation, which began in 2018, and explains that the fine is the largest ever issued by the Irish regulator and the second‑largest under EU law. He discusses user concerns over recent privacy‑policy updates that many feared would allow data sharing with Meta, the parent company, and notes that millions of users migrated to alternatives such as Signal, Telegram, Discord, and others. While acknowledging the benefits big‑tech platforms provide for entrepreneurs—targeted advertising, global reach—the presenter adopts a balanced, generally optimistic tone, emphasizing a "glass half full" outlook. He shares an idea from a billionaire acquaintance: a future social‑media model where creators own and can port their data across platforms, making the platform merely an intermediary. The video concludes with a call for audience comments on data privacy, trust in big tech, and the proposed data‑ownership model, and encourages sharing the content.
Chapters
So WhatsApp have been fined around €200 million, €225 million in fact, for a rather vague data policy issue. Now, is this a little bit more bad news for this big giant, you know, who owns WhatsApp? I'm sure, um, I do think it raises some issues that we should discuss. Let me know what you, you think in the comments. Let me just give you the news. So WhatsApp has been fined €225 million by Ireland's data watchdog for breaching privacy regulations. Um, it's the biggest fine ever from the Irish Data Protection Commission and the second highest ever under EU GDPR laws. Now, what do you think on these GDPR and data protection laws? Do you think they're somewhat vague? Do you think they're somewhat strict? Or do you think that there's been a lot of data leaks and issues that need to be controlled? Do you remember the Cambridge Analytica scandal going back a couple of years? So obviously WhatsApp is owned by you know who, who I am here with now, um, and its EU headquarters are in Ireland, and the Irish regulator is the lead authority for the tech giant in Europe. Okay, WhatsApp said it disagrees with the decision and the severity of the fine and plans to appeal. Um, the fine relates to an investigation which began 3 years ago about whether WhatsApp had been transparent enough with how it handles information. The issues involved were highly technical, including whether WhatsApp supplied enough info to users about how their data was processed and if its privacy policies were clear enough. So does that sound like quite a hefty fine, $200 million? For vagaries in data protection, or is that fair enough? Because, um, you know, I think a lot of people feel now that data is kind of getting leaked around. Obviously, some big tech companies own multiple social media channels. I think some people were actually concerned that if their data was given to one company, it might be shared with another company that that company owns— this company and that company. So I'd love your thoughts on this, by the way. Um, please also do share this content. I do like to discuss topical, um, news that relates to start and scale-up entrepreneurs, that relates to kind of world issues when it comes to big tech and corporations and money. I'm usually positive. I'm more of a glass half full than a glass half empty kind of person. I want to help as many people on this planet start and scale their business. Get better financial knowledge, become an entrepreneur. But of course, social media and big tech is now pervasive and relevant to all of us. So let me carry on. And WhatsApp have updated their privacy policy and data policies multiple times, and they say WhatsApp are committed to providing a secure and private service. GDPR rules allow for mammoth fines up to 4% of the offending company's global turnover. So that's a pretty big chunky fine. An Irish record fine of €225 million has been dished out to WhatsApp, and it's the second in EU history. WhatsApp users complained about an update to the company's terms that many believed would result in data being shared with parent company, you know who, here we are now, which has now changed their name to Meta. By the way, I actually think in a lot of ways Facebook get a bad rap. We're all on Facebook here, well, most of us, and Facebook have definitely helped me reach my target audience, and I've done a lot of business with Facebook. Facebook have made tens of millions out of me, and you know, I've done all right out of them too. So I'm not all just a big tech hater. I'd like you to see both sides because I think it's really important. A lot of people's, you know, bitching WhatsApp, bitching Facebook while on WhatsApp, while on Facebook. Come on, irony. And Facebook ads and Google ads are much more specific and targeted than newspaper and radio. And so in some ways, many of these tech companies have enabled us to reach our ideal clients and audience, reach our friends and family where we may not have before across the globe. But of course, when we share data, we want to know that it's safe, and we want to know that it's not going to get just completely doled out like you know, came about with the Cambridge Analytica scandal and now maybe this. Um, I was talking to a billionaire about 3 years ago and he said any social media platform that could launch which allows you to own your own data and port it across and doesn't own your data— so for example, let's say all of you here, um, I had a social media platform and when you registered, I owned your data rather than the social media channel owned your data. And then when I launched on a new social media channel, I could port that data across. So data is portable and owned by the creator and not the social media platform. Because if you think about it, if you follow me, actually you're kind of subscribing to me, not Facebook. So I'm a billionaire friend of mine who I'm meeting up in London with next week. He said he thinks this is maybe the future of disruption in social media, um, and communicating online. Where the creator or the person that you actually connect with owns the data, not the company in the middle, not the big tech company. And then it could be ported across all, and then they don't actually, um, they just become an intermediary and they don't sort of own your data per se. Anyway, that was just a, an ideological thought. Um, okay, so WhatsApp users complained about, um, an update to the company's terms. Which many believe will result in data being shared with other parent companies. Many thought refusing to agree to the new terms and conditions would result in their account being blocked, because there has been a bit of a cancel culture, hasn't there, on social media. And if you say the wrong thing on some channels, you could just get shut and banned. And in some ways, I think that that's a real shame. And then there was a social media platform launched called Parler, which, um, claimed to be neutral and wouldn't ban you for any stance or position or political view or whatever, and then that got crushed. Um, so yeah, there's some irony there. During the confusion, millions of users moved from WhatsApp to other platforms like Signal and Discord and Telegram. Okay, so let me know what you think about this in the comments. Let me just do a quick summary. Please share this video because I think data and how it's used is a really topical discussion. I think we want to try and find the best solution for all. A lot of people bitch and moan about social media, but they gave the data willingly, so maybe individuals have to take some responsibility. But at the same time, you don't want a data leak or a breach, and what you want to know, your data is secure. Would love your thoughts. So quick summary, hit the share button, let me know your thoughts. Let's go. WhatsApp have been fined a record €225 million, £193 million, by Ireland's data watchdog for breaching privacy regulations. Although it's very vague and not actually specific, doesn't seem specific as to what it is. Um, there was Cambridge Analytica scandal and now this. What does this do for the big tech brands, the trust of big tech? Do you trust big tech? Let me know. Um, I'm not anti-big tech at all. Here I am on big tech, and I think it gives us reach. I think it gives us community. I think it gives us access globally. So, um, hey, look, I ain't no hater. Um, but I just wanted to show you this news. Um, it's the largest ever fine from Data Protection Commission in Ireland and the second highest under EU law. WhatsApp have been fined €225 million, £193 million. WhatsApp's owned by Meta, and it has its EU headquarters in Ireland, and the Irish regulator is the lead authority for the tech giant in Europe. WhatsApp disagrees with the decision, says it's too severe. The fine relates to an investigation which began in 2018 as to whether WhatsApp was transparent enough with how it handles information, technical data processing issue, but it was deemed that the policies weren't clear enough. Those policies have been updated many times. WhatsApp say they're committed to providing a secure and private service. I actually get really good use and benefit out of WhatsApp personally. I don't know what you think, but of course you want to know your data's safe. GDPR rules allow companies to be fine up to 4% of global revenue, which is hundreds of millions for some. Um, WhatsApp users complained of an update that they believed, um, data could be shared with other big social media platforms, um, and many thought refusing to, uh, agree to the new terms and conditions would result in their accounts being blocked. And apparently millions went over to Signal and Telegram and Discord and other platforms. So let me know what you think. Let's discuss in the comments what's going on here. How do we feel about how our data is handled? How should it be handled? What are the solutions? What did you think of my billionaire friend's idea where social media platforms could become an intermediary and almost neutral? Because for example, I can't contact any of you directly here. Facebook own all the data, or TikTok own all the data, or WhatsApp own all the data, or YouTube own all the data. But in theory, you have registered to see me. So what about the data porting of media companies? Hmm, what do we think about that? All right, thanks for tuning in, really appreciate you all. The breaking news is that WhatsApp have been fined $200 million for data breach or lack of clarity of policy. And I think we should fire up a discussion in the chat. And see what this means, and I'd love your thoughts. Thanks for tuning in. Hit the share button. I'll see you in the comments.
