WhatsApp head Will Cathcart has posted a thread on Twitter, clearing the air around the ongoing controversy around user privacy. Recently WhatsApp started rolling out its updated privacy policy that the data it collects will also be shared to its parent company Facebook, which has a murky track record.
The update notification alerts that the new terms and privacy policy include more information about the messaging service and how it processes a user's data. Besides, businesses can now have a look at how to use Facebook hosted services to store and manage their WhatsApp chats. The new update to terms also elaborates on how WhatsApp partners with Facebook for integration across Facebook Company Products .
There was a sudden rise in the number of users shifting to alternative messaging apps like Telegram and Signal soon after the notification about the update in privacy policy started popping up. It quickly came under the radar and it is now facing criticism across social media platforms. So much so, that even Tesla head Elon Musk also Tweeted "Use Signal", which added more fuel to the fire.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1347165127036977153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The first statement from the company comes from WhatsApp head, Will Cathcart. He emphasized on the fact that all chats happening on the platform are secure and encrypted. He also clarified that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook has access to its user's private chats.
Cathcart has published a thread that covers all the concerns rising around the privacy of user data. He starts with telling that the messages and calls made using WhatsApp are still end-to-end encrypted. He clears that with end-to-end encryption, neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can access to the contents of a chat between two users.
He explains that the updated privacy policy is being shown to people to introduce the new business features to the users in a more transparent way.
https://twitter.com/wcathcart/status/1347660768225841152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“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 does not impact how people communicate privately with friends or family wherever they are in the world, ”writes Cathcart in his Tweet.
Cathcart reiterated that WhatsApp is proud of its service and it will continue to develop technology to provide private and secure communications to masses. He added that the company's upcoming disappearing message feature is an example of its innovation on privacy.
The last tweet in the thread reads, “we are so committed to end-to-end encryption, and why we keep improving the privacy of WhatsApp, such as with our launch of disappearing messages in November. Our innovation on privacy will continue. "
WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging app around the globe and rising concerns around privacy have opened up many eyes. The new changes will take effect from February 8 and users will have to accept the new terms and updates to the privacy policy to continue using the app.