WhatsApp will not enforce new privacy policy on February 8
WhatsApp will no suspend or delete any account yet
WhatsApp wants to give more time to users to understand new changes
WhatsApp has postponed its new privacy policy update for users until May 15 after a major backlash. Previously, the company was slated to enforce the new privacy policy on February 8 but amidst the ongoing data-sharing debacle, WhatsApp has paused its plans to implement it for the next three months. WhatsApp introduced changes to its privacy policy on January 6 where it detailed how it's working with Facebook for deeper integration across all Facebook products.
In a new blog post, the company is offering more time to users to review WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy and says that “No one will have their account suspended or deleted on February 8.” WhatsApp is also promising to clear up the misinformation and reiterates that the new policy does not affect users chats but instead is related to business accounts only.
WhatsApp has also revealed that the new business options will be available on the messaging app on May 15 which will be the last day to accept the company’s new terms. “While not everyone shops with a business on WhatsApp today, we think that more people will choose to do so in the future and its important people are aware of these services. This update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook,” the company says in the blog.
With this, it is clear that WhatsApp has no intention to review its new privacy policy and has time and again said that it cannot see users chats, group chats or listen to calls and that it is encrypted in a secured way. The same applies to parent-company Facebook, who does not have access to this private information, WhatsApp has clarified.
WhatsApp has also outlined how it works with Facebook and business accounts saying that it wants to make it easier for people to connect with a business account if they should require. “Messaging with businesses is different than messaging with your family or friends,” the company states.
However, the company has clarified that if a business is using Facebook’s hosting services to manage their chats and communicate to customers, it may use the information provided by the user for marketing and advertising purposes. The new privacy policy was set to take effect from February 8 but now it has been deferred to May 15.
You can read more about WhatsApp's updated privacy policy here and what it means for users here.
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