WhatsApp is facing backlash from the moment it announced its’ new privacy policy. According to the first announcements, you had till 8th Feb 2021 to accept the new policy. However, it did not sit well with many users in the country. The new privacy policy concerned many users on data sharing and rumors of accounts deleting.
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On the other hand, the company clarifies that the update does not affect data sharing with Facebook. It is regarding personal conversations or other profile information. Additionally, only addresses business chats in the event a user converses with a company”s customer service platform through WhatsApp.
Thank you to everyone who’s reached out. We're still working to counter any confusion by communicating directly with @WhatsApp users. No one will have their account suspended or deleted on Feb 8 and we’ll be moving back our business plans until after May – https://t.co/H3DeSS0QfO
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) January 15, 2021
“We’ve heard from so many people how much confusion there is around our recent update. There”s been a lot of misinformation causing concern and we want to help everyone understand our principles and the facts.”
WhatsApp in a Blog
Moreover, they also mention that “WhatsApp is built on a simple idea: what you share with your friends and family stays between you. This means we will always protect your personal conversations with end-to-end encryption so that Facebook can see these private messages. It”s why we don’t keep logs of who everyone’s messaging or calling. We also can’t see your shared location and we don’t share your contacts with Facebook.”
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WhatsApp Delays Privacy Policy Changes?
Now, WhatsApp announces that it will take three months to review the policy change. Thus, in turn, give users until May 15th to accept the changes. However, it comes roughly a week after the Facebook-owned app had sent a splash screen update to all users mentioning the new updates to the privacy policy that brings better integration with Facebook. The WhatsApp privacy policy change led Millions of users to switch to alternatives such as Signal or Telegram.
In addition, the company also brings up a blog post-Friday trying to clear up the confusion. It includes a chart that specifies what information is protected when someone uses the platform. However, Facebook’s privacy track record and the fact that WhatsApp over time turned its sights on monetizing the platform for its large international user base. It has eroded trust in the chat app, which, in turn, had the effect of turning a relatively mundane update into a worldwide controversy.
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There’s a lot of misinformation regarding the new changes with most people believing that it would share all user information with Facebook. However, it is now going to use the three-month delay to better communicate both the changes in its new policy. Moreover, its’ long-standing privacy practices around personal chats, location sharing, and other sensitive data. “We’re now moving back the date on which people will be asked to review and accept the terms,” the blog post reads.
According to the company, no one will lose access to the app if they did not agree to the new terms of service agreement that communicated the changes earlier this month. “
Sushmita Choubey
Marketer to the core, a writer from the soul. Engineer and an MBA turned budding tech writer - dabbling her hands in all genres of writing from tech to fiction. If not writing, you will always find me reading anything and everything. Otherwise, you will find me learning new languages.