The WhatsApp
Experience
Practical lessons learned from an
international joint investigation
Presentation Outline
• Background
• Lessons learned
• Questions
2
Background
• Canadian and Dutch DPAs agreed to conduct
a joint investigation into WhatsApp’s
privacy practices
• Investigative work began February 2012 and
findings were issued in January 2013
• Investigation resulted in several substantive
findings
3
The case for working together
• International problems warrant an
international response
• We can do more with less by working
together
4
Lessons Learned: the importance of…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Getting comfortable
Playing positions
Showing solidarity
Being strategic
Developing transborder tools
5
Lesson 1: The importance of getting
comfortable
•
•
•
•
with each other
with how the other operates
with what is shared — and not shared
with each other’s strengths and
weaknesses
• with the possibility of divergent findings
6
Lesson 2: The importance of playing
positions
• makes better use of specialized resources
• makes for more timely and better
responses
7
Lesson 3: The importance of showing
solildarity
• fosters compliance among respondents
• fosters creativity and cooperation among
investigative teams
8
Lesson 4: The importance of being
strategic
• in choosing our partners
• in choosing our investigations
9
Lesson 5: The importance of developing
transborder tools and templates
• to identify potential issues for
collaboration
• to encourage cooperation in the course of
joint activities
• to facilitate key deliverables
10
Questions?
Contact Information:
Rob vanEijk (CBP)
[email protected]
Steven Johnston (OPC)
[email protected]