Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp under EU scrutinySeptember 2, 2014 - 18:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Facebook's acquisition of messaging service WhatsApp is under scrutiny from the European Union. The $16 billion deal was brokered in February but is yet to receive EU ratification, with the institution due to make a decision on the matter next month. The EU is to consult with other messaging app providers and telecommunications companies to decide whether Facebook's purchase is beneficial to the citizens of its member states. It is also trying to determine whether the deal could result in price increases or the decline or services such as SMS and email, Digital Spy reported citing Reuters. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has offered assurances that WhatsApp will remain its own entity, rather than be absorbed into the social network's messaging platform. However, this has not stopped privacy campaigners from pressuring the firm into declaring what it plans to do with the messenger service's personal data. Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | Kazakh Foreign Minister arrives in Armenia Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu on Monday, March 18 arrived in Armenia for a two-day trip. Aliyev touts “good chances” for normalizing ties with Armenia Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has declared that there are “good chances” for normalizing relations with Armenia. Putin secures fifth term as Russian president Russian President Vladimir Putin has secured a fifth term in office through a dubious national plebiscite. Top Armenian, Indian defense officials discuss cooperation The discussions primarily focused on enhancing cooperation in the defence sector between Armenia and India. |