WhatsApp on Friday said it was postponing a review. Of its privacy policy following concerns and calls from users to switch to other encrypted apps like Signal and Telegraph. The Facebook-hosted app now gives users until May 15th to review and adopt their new policy. Related to how businesses access user information.
“No one will have his account suspended or deleted on February 8,” WhatsApp said on its website. “We will do more and clear up false information about how WhatsApp privacy and security work in WhatsApp.”
Earlier this week, WhatsApp published a FAQ clarifying its updated privacy policy terms. And responding to concerns about sharing personal information with parent company Facebook. The company noted that this update does not affect the privacy of messages with friends and family. And instead relates to business messages via the forum. WhatsApp also said the update “provides more transparency about how we collect and use data.”
Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. WhatsApp says personal messages are also protected by encryption to end-to-end. But for years has freely collected some user data to share with Facebook. Telegram, another secure messaging app, on Tuesday claimed more than 500 million active users. And gained over 25 million new users worldwide in just 72 hours.
WhatsApp states that neither they nor Facebook can detect private messages. In addition, the company claims that it does not keep track of. Who users send or call cannot see shared location and does not share their Facebook contacts.
WhatsApp’s Top 5 Privacy Features policy, businesses have the option of using “secure hosting services from Facebook. To manage WhatsApp conversations with their customers, answer questions, and send useful information such as purchase receipts,” WhatsApp said. When you contact a business, they can see what you mean and use that information. To market themselves, which may include advertising on Facebook. WhatsApp claims to clearly record conversations with businesses that use Facebook hosting services.
Also, interacting with Facebook’s Shops commercial feature via WhatsApp allows the buyer’s activity. To be used to display related ads on Facebook and Instagram. WhatsApp says this feature is optional and if you use it. We will tell you in the app how your data is shared with Facebook.” Additionally. Clicking on a Facebook ad and the option to send a business message via WhatsApp. May allow Facebook to display other related ads.
WhatsApp has published a new FAQ page to its website outlining its stances. On user privacy in response to widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update. The core issue relates to WhatsApp’s data-sharing procedures with Facebook. With many users concerned an updated privacy policy going. Into effect on February 8th will mandate sharing. Of sensitive profile information with WhatsApp’s parent company.
That isn’t true — the update has nothing to do with consumer chats or profile data. And instead the change is designed to outline how businesses who use WhatsApp. For customer service may store logs of its chats on Facebook servers. That’s something the company feels it is required to disclose in its privacy policy. Which it’s now doing after previewing the upcoming changes to business chats back in October.
We want to address some rumors and be 100% clear we continue to protect your private messages with end-to-end encryption.
But a wave of untrue information on social media. And its reputation for undermining changes in its various service agreements, has led to a complete decline of WhatsApp with users fleeing competitors like Signal and Telegram.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk even got into a fight, writing on Twitter last week “Use Signal” to his more than 42 million followers. As the controversy grows, Signal has become. One of the most downloaded apps for Android and iOS. And its authentication system for registering. Telegram, currently No. 2 after Signal in the App Store, saw more than 25 million new users sign up in the last 72 hours.
WhatsApp executives, along with Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri and Facebook AR / VR head Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, are now trying to set a record, perhaps to make the most of this moment.
