18/06/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday, June 18, Facebook announced the launch of Libra, its own cryptocurrency, in 2020 (see EUROPE 12262/23). Instant online purchases and transactions between social network users will be processed through Calibra, a digital portfolio integrated with Messenger and WhatsApp, that will also function as a stand-alone application. Facebook, which had its share of scandals in 2019, is highlighting the protection that Calibra will provide. In a press release, the social network stated that “we’ll be using all the same verification and anti-fraud processes that banks and credit cards use”. Facebook gave further assurances that Calibra will not share users' account information with third parties without their consent and that Calibra's customers' financial data will not be used for targeted advertising on Facebook. (MF)