Stopping WhatsApp and Meta's Abusive Operations in the Global South

In 2021, WhatsApp LLC presented its 2 billion users with a choice: accept new abusive Terms & Conditions or be removed from the app. The update involved forcibly sharing sensitive personal data with Meta for advertising purposes. Despite Brazil's Data Protection Law, the company disregarded the rights of 9 out of 10 Brazilian users. Flora led a successful multifaceted campaign, including legal actions, advocacy, coalition building, and media exposure.

Through the commissioning of a legal briefing, the document became the sole counter-argument made accessible to both civil society and authorities in opposition to Meta. Civil inquiries were filed with multiple authorities, resulting in a formal partnership among them to address Big Tech abuse. Brazil's digital rights coalition and Latin American organizations denounced the companies publicly. A national media strategy created widespread awareness at top-level outlets and several Op-Eds such as Folha de S. Paulo, Veja, and several others articles.

The campaign's efforts secured Brazil's users from expulsion from the app, and several other policy adjustments. Ultimately, this strategy compelled Meta to u-turn worldwide on the forced consent, preventing the company from harvesting the data of billions of people worldwide. It remains an ongoing campaign, demonstrating the power of advocacy and collective action.

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