Most WhatsApp users are concerned about an updated privacy policy going into effect on 8th February 2021. It will supposedly mandate the sharing of sensitive profile information with WhatsApp’s parent company. The key issue is regarding WhatsApp’s data-sharing procedures with Facebook. Now, WhatsApp has updated the FAQ page to its website outlining its stances on user privacy in response to widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update. The company has confirmed that the update has nothing to do with consumer chats or profile data. The change is aimed to outline how businesses who use WhatsApp for customer service may store logs of their chats on Facebook servers. But, a wave of misinformation on social media has resulted in a full-blown WhatsApp backlash that has users fleeing to competitors like Signal and Telegram.
Point to be noted that WhatsApp rivals like Signal and Telegram have recorded a significant number increase of new users on their platform. Signal has become one of the most downloaded apps on Android and iOS and its verification system for signing up new users has repeatedly buckled under the pressure. Last week, the CEO of Tesla Elon Musk has even jumped into the fray after tweeting “Use Signal” to his more than 42 million followers. Telegram is currently behind Signal on the App Store and the platform recorded more than 25 million new users sign up in just the last 72 hours.
We want to address some rumors and be 100% clear we continue to protect your private messages with end-to-end encryption. pic.twitter.com/6qDnzQ98MP
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) January 12, 2021
WhatsApp’s new FAQ page says, “We want to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of your 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 we collect and use data”. It also stresses in the page that neither Facebook nor WhatsApp read users’ message logs or listen to their calls. The FAQ page also confirmed that it doesn’t store user location data or share contact information with Facebook. WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart also took to Twitter and said, “With end-to-end encryption, we cannot see your private chats or calls, and neither can Facebook. We’re committed to this technology and committed to defending it globally.
It’s important for us to be clear this update describes business communication and does not change WhatsApp’s data-sharing practices with Facebook. It doesn’t impact how people communicate privately with friends or family wherever they are in the world”. The language regarding data sharing with Facebook was changed in the upcoming privacy policy change. Most believed the new mandated data sharing was a new change that could not be avoided. WhatsApp’s new privacy policy says, “WhatsApp receives information from the Facebook family of companies, and shares information with this family of companies. We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings”.
