WhatsApp which is an instant messaging app owned by Facebook updated it’s privacy policy and service terms about processing user data on 5th January. The users of WhatsApp were informed through an app notification to accept the updated terms and conditions by 8th February orelse they will not be able to use their account in the future. Later the deadline was extended till 15th May.
The update of WhatsApp’s privacy policy had become controversial as it decided to share its users details with the parent company Facebook. Whatsapp had mentioned that they would share details such as user’s account registration information like their phone number, transaction data, services-related information, interaction information (including business interactions), mobile device information, IP address etc.
Now WhatsApp has decided to scrap the deadline of 15th May for its users to accept the updated privacy policy in order to avoid the deletion of their respective accounts. The users were really disappointed with the update earlier.
The platform mentioned that already most of the users had accepted the updated privacy policy while the rest users are yet to accept.
There was a fear of users’ data being breached as the policy allowed sharing business related information with the parent company. But WhatsApp has given a clarification that the changes were made in order to help businesses through WhatsApp Business, launched in 2018 as a mode of communication for businesses and customers. It has also cleared that the terms of update does not compromise with its end-to-end encryption.
On Friday their spokesperson had mentioned in a query response email that ” No accounts will be deleted on May 15 because of this update and no one in India will lose functionality of WhatsApp either”.He also added that ” We will follow up reminders to people over the next several weeks”.
Whatsapp claims that they had been working from last few months to clear the confusions and misinformation. And it reminded that the update does not impact the privacy of personal for anyone.
They also stated that, their goal is to provide information about new options they are building that people will have, to message a business on WhatsApp, in the future. It appreciated that majority users have accepted the new terms of service received while some people have not had the chance to do so .
Hope so now there is no need to worry about user account and details as the spokesperson said that, “WhatsApp will take every opportunity to explain how the company protects people’s personal messages and private information.
