Continental prohibits use of WhatsApp and Snapchat

Continental is prohibiting its employees from using social-media apps like WhatsApp in its global company network, effective immediately. In the company’s opinion, these services have deficiencies when it comes to data protection, as they access a users’ personal and potentially confidential data.

In the case of such apps like Whatsapp or Snapchat, access to the contact list cannot be restricted. The responsibility for complying with data-protection laws is therefore shifted onto the users of these apps. The risks this poses in terms of data protection are not ones the company is willing to take. Furthermore, the company wants to protect its own employees and business partners.

 »For uns, the security of technologies and the trust users place in them have a high priority. We are working on eradicating road-traffic accidents and are therefore calling for such a Vision Zero for data traffic as well,« said Continental’s CEO Dr. Elmar Degenhart, adding: »We think it is unacceptable to transfer to users the responsibility of complying with data protection laws. This is why we are turning to secure alternatives.«

»Data is an obligation«, added Degenhart in view of Continental’s strategy: “Technology providers, in particular, must make it as easy as possible to ensure compliance with data protection laws. Technology leaders, in particular, have a major responsibility in this regard. This is why data protection is definitely not just an optional extra for us, our products, our services and our processes. This fundamental attitude will strengthen global trust in new, data-based mobility services in the long term.”

Continental has been monitoring the business practices of certain software and IT service providers with concern. »Functional restrictions and hurdles that make it difficult to comply with data protection laws erode people’s trust in technologies,« said Degenhart, who calls for »priority for trust and security« in general when it comes to the development of technologies.