Privacy

WhatsApp delays ‘Data-Sharing’ privacy policy update until May

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WhatsApp has announced that it will delay applying its new privacy policies from February 8 to May 15. Few days back WhatsApp has presented users with a prompt to accept its new privacy terms by February 8, or stop using the app.

There has been a lot of misinformation about the revision to its privacy policy that allows WhatsApp to share data with Facebook. The users were concerned about the exact kind of information that will be shared under the new policy.

WhatsApp said that they need to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of user’s messages with friends or family in any way. Instead, this update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional, and provides further transparency about how they collect and use data.

But now the company have decided to delay enforcing the changes until May, stating that there was a “lot of misinformation” among the people.

They assured that no users will have their account deleted or suspended on February 8th.

They have also decided to do a lot to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp. They will then go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15.

Due to the new policy, many privacy-concerned users decided to shift to other messaging apps such as Signal and Telegram. Perhaps Signal has become one of the most downloaded apps on Android and iOS during these days.

WhatsApp also published a separate FAQ in order to clarify the users concerns saying that they cannot see user’s personal messages or hear the calls, and neither can Facebook, and that it does not share users’ contacts and location information to its parent company.

Priyanka R
Cyber Security Enthusiast, Security Blogger, Technical Editor, Author at Cyber Safe News

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