Facebook and WhatsApp told to stand by commitments on privacy

NEW YORK, USA: The US Federal Trade Commission has asked social media giant Facebook and WhatsApp to stand by their previous commitments to protect user privacy.

Jessica Rich, director of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection, told both companies they must stick to statements made in February when Facebook announced the $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp.

"WhatsApp must continue to honour these promises to consumers," she wrote.

However, if the acquisition is completed and WhatsApp does not stick to its guns, both companies could be in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act and, potentially, an existing FTC order against Facebook.

In 2011, Facebook settled FTC charges that it had deceived users by failing to keep its own privacy promises.

Under the commission's order, Facebook must get affirmative consent from users before making any changes that override their privacy settings, among other requirements.