WhatsApp Ireland is responsible for managing the data of the company's more than 500 million customers across the European Union. Photograph: Getty
The Dublin-registered company’s expenses surged after it set aside more money to deal with potential regulatory fines. WhatsApp Ireland has appealed the DPC’s fine in the High Court, which adjourned the matter earlier this year pending a decision of the Courts of the Justice of the European Union.No end to Ireland’s love affair with the bananaAccounts recently filed in Dublin reveal the company sank to a more than €2.4 million operating loss last year from operating profits in excess of €40 million in 2022. Administrative expenses at the company climbed by €42.2 million in the year from €15.
The accounts note the company set aside an additional €4.3 million to discharge any potential fines “due to changes in estimates and assumptions”. Overall, the company had a more than €203 million war chest to discharge any fines at the end of last year, up from €193.4 million at the end of 2022, an increase of some €9.7 million.