To think an organisation should not set up a WhatsApp group without consent.

[threekidshelp]

I do work for an organisation as do lots of other individuals. We are not colleagues as such and do not know each other or need to contact each other, but the organisation does and they usually do this by email or text.

Today, they set up a WhatsApp group without asking and with all of us as members. I now have all their numbers and they mine and none of us was asked.

Is this okay? I don't know any of these people in real life. I wasn't pleased.

[EcclesThePeacock]

No, I don't think that's ok at all - is it even legal to share that sort of information without consent?

[hopeishere]

I'm guessing it breaks GDPR.

[ForalltheSaints]

Not okay. We were asked at work about this and three of the team including myself declined, so it was not set up.

[ChicCroissant]

This happening with phone numbers and other people adding you to groups is the reason I don't like WhatsApp myself!

Can you leave the group, especially if they have used a personal (not works) number which it sounds like they have?

[threekidshelp]

Thanks. I sent a polite but firm message to the individual who set up the group say that they had given my contact details out without my consent and could they find out what the organisations policy was on doing this and get back to me.

I wouldn't usually be this direct but I was pretty sure this wasn't okay. Then had a wobble...hence my post. Like most things, probably nothing bad would happen but who knows.

[Shahlalala]

Totally inappropriate and a GDPR breach. I would report it to your DP officer/person.

[threekidshelp]

The other reason I didn't like it is that they didn't make clear the purpose for the group so people instantly started moaning and general discussion. I'd have ended up muting or leaving the group anyway, so defeating the object of using it as a means of communicating information.

Looks as if they may have checked their privacy policy as numbers started to be deleted pretty quickly. Hope I haven't hacked anyone off who liked the group.

[FairyMoppings]

My former agency did this. I did ckeaning work for them, and they set up a WhatsApp group of all the cleaners they had on their books. I wasn't pleased that my number was available to all and sundry without my consent and I removed myself. Told them if they needed to contact me they do so directly.

[Marriedwithchildren5]

I always ask staff if they want to be added to the chat. I'll be honest, im not understanding your issue. Just leave the group? There was a time everyones number was in the phone book, you could opt out of that. No harm, no stress.

[threekidshelp]

If I knew the people and worked with them, perhaps fair enough. But we don't know each other, have no reason to be in touch with each other and critically, we weren't asked. People can choose to be ex directory for a reason.

[PetuniaPetunia]

Also, you hadn't given them permission to give Whatsapp your phone number.

[sackrifice]

Was this your personal phone number, or a work phone?

[TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup]

Also, you hadn't given them permission to give Whatsapp your phone number.

You have to have WhatsApp on your phone already, you can't be added to it if you don't.

[EduCated]

No, they should have checked everyone was happy for their details to be shared in that way.

It sounds like they could use a broadcast list on WhatsApp - they can mass send messages to a group of people, but those people don’t see each other’s numbers and any replies go directly to the sender, not every Tom, Dick and Harry. You could suggest that to them, depending on how helpful you’re feeling!

[threekidshelp]

Personal, and only, phone number. They are now going to use a broadcast list. Problem solved. Grrr.