WhatsApp recently updated its privacy policy, which will go into effect in just a few months. The popular messaging app has seen its fair share of controversy recently, which for the most part has centered around privacy concerns. In December of last year, WhatsApp was among several companies on the receiving end of an FTC directive requesting information on how personal data is used and collected.
In January, WhatsApp changed its terms to include a requirement for users to share certain information with Facebook, its parent company. The app claimed this new rule would allow for better integration with other Facebook products. However, users still had plenty of concerns and to the point where many decided to leave WhatsApp, opting for Signal and Telegram instead. In fact, the response was so negative at the time that WhatsApp delayed when the updated policy would come into effect.
Initially, WhatsApp had planned on integrating the update on February 8. However, the delay now means that WhatsApp users have until May 15 to accept the terms of the new privacy policy. If users haven’t accepted the terms by that date, they will begin to lose access to the app. To begin with, users will continue to see notifications and receive calls on WhatsApp, but if they don’t accept the terms after that, it is likely they won’t be able to use the app until agreeing. WhatsApp has since attempted to ease users into the change by adding a new banner to the app that will continue to provide reminders on the need to accept the changes.
The updates are focused chiefly on businesses using WhatsApp to communicate with customers, with no change to the way users interact with each other expected. For example, users might see an ad for a business and they will be able to better use WhatsApp to communicate with these companies. As to be expected, Facebook might also use the way people interact with these ads to personalize advertisements in the future. Users will also be informed with clear labels if the business they’re chatting with is using a secure hosting service from Facebook. In addition, the business may use information from a conversation for marketing, including the ads that customers see. Essentially, WhatsApp wants to improve the business-related features and needs users to agree to the changes, even if they don't actually take advantage of them.
It’s understandable for users to be wary of any changes regarding data collection and use, and it’s also true that WhatsApp could have been clearer from the beginning. Still, it doesn’t seem like there is too much to worry about with these changes, considering they are not as broad as many first thought. If users still don’t feel comfortable with the new arrangement, there are various measures they can take, including checking out some of the alternatives to WhatsApp.
Source: WhatsApp
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