Privacy groups demand FTC to investigate $19bn Facebook-WhatsApp deal

Privacy groups have reportedly demanded US Federal Trade Commission to investigate into the 19 billion dollar acquisition deal between Facebook and WhatsApp and possibly block it.

Privacy groups, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy, have said that WhatsApp has demonstrated a 'strong commitment to user privacy,' but Facebook's current messaging service collects and stores virtually all available user data.

According to PC World, EPIC's consumer protection counsel, Julia Horwitz, said that they have appealed to the FTC to investigate whether there are sufficient privacy protections in place to continue to shield the data of WhatsApp users from access by Facebook.

The groups noted that if Facebook collects WhatsApp's user data, it would be in plain violation of the FTC rules.

They have demanded that FTC should either block the acquisition deal or should 'insulate' the app's users from Facebook data collection.

Meanwhile, a Facebook spokeswoman said that the acquisition wouldn't change WhatsApp's privacy practices and the social media giant's aim is to bring more connectivity and utility to the world.

She reiterated that WhatsApp would operate as a separate company after the deal, the report added.