You have no idea how pervasive WhatsApp is with government officials over here. It’s a huge problem, and those with the power to do something about it don’t seem to care.
Here the message is very clear (about tiktok, I mean) - you have no power at all over them. Or very limited. Plus, who knows what this app collects about you...
EDIT: I know it's about EU, but the principle remains the same. There is clearly more trust towards US than somewhere else...
GDPR did a lot, true. However, there are deals between EU and US that make the data exchange possible - under certain circumstances, there is not so much you can do, even if you check all the boxes in the "right to be forgotten" and all that.
I do agree that we needed GDPR and even stronger rules for data privacy against companies making money with your data (which is what GDPR is about).
But EU vs Tiktok case is clearly about governments spying and basically collecting data they shouldn't. It's beyond "data sold for marketing purposes" which the GDPR protects you against.
This is why I think there is a "trust" or let's call it just "deal" between EU and US when it's about data used for purposes beyond marketing. From time to time you'll see the BS scandal that US is spying on EU politicians, but that's to me more of a way to sell newspapers/ads than actual politics.
Let's not forget that US helps EU governments to fight also terror attacks - how, if not with data retrieved by spying on citizens? I believe it's convenient for everyone. And don't tell me EU governments don't spy on American politicians? Sorry but I don't believe it, like AT all.
In this speecific case, honestly, I don't even understand how it's possible that government officials use tiktok on their professional phones. I myself do not install crap on my company phone! And I am a freaking nobody.
Regardless, the gears are certainly turning on data residency. I see it every day in my day job. I don’t work in a highly regulated industry by any means, but it’s one that governments kinda care about. I don’t work in the US. And I can tell you that storing data in the US isn t the magical free pass that the average American would think it is. The US is treated like a foreign power like any other, and that risk is considered appropriately.
US adtech today argues that individuals have the right to give up their privacy and personal information in exchange for creating value for others, but that that information is inherently valueless without the markets, relationships, and processes they have created.
This largely hasn't been (openly) discussed at the public policy level in the US because our lawmakers are terrified of accidentally passing a law that "kills Google". The world is getting close, which was part of the Alphabet/Google and Meta/Facebook maneuvers, as subtle entry into new markets becomes less possible.
I do hope European countries continue reclaiming their privacy from the USA. Let us just hope it is with truly secure systems rather than their own backdoored ones.
[0] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-security-agency-spie...