WhatsApp flip-flops on privacy policy threats, again
WhatsApp continues to engage with stakeholders around the world
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Continuing the confusion on its new Privacy Policy,WhatsApphas announced a reversal of its stance, saying that it won’t limit functionality for users who don’t accept the new terms, at least for now.
WhatsApp’snew Privacy Policy, which has drawn a lot of criticism from users across the world forsharing datawith its parent company Facebook, finally went into effect on May 15, 2021.
Earlier this month, before the policy came into force, the popular messaging appbacktracked on its threatto ban users that don’t accept the new terms, instead threatening them with reduced functionality. It now appears that the company has backtracked on the limited functionality threat as well.
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“Given recent discussions with various authorities and privacy experts, we want to make clear that we currently have no plans to limit the functionality of how WhatsApp works for those who have not yet accepted the update,” the company said in its latest statement.
Topsy turvy
While the privacy policy was originally supposed to go live earlier this year in February, WhatsApp decided to delay the update till May after facing backlash from its users.
In fact, after the policy was first introduced, the company lost a lot of users who migrated to otherWhatsApp alternativesincluding severalencrypted messaging appsincludingTelegram and Signal.
Unfortunately however, the mixed messaging from the company regarding the implications of not agreeing to the new terms, continues even after the new terms have come into effect.
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Many countries including Germany and Turkey have gone up in arms against WhatsApp’s new policy, whilst the company is also currently engaged in atussle with the Indian governmentwho contend that the app’s new privacy policy contravenes the country’s laws.
WhatsApp now suggests that these engagements are behind its change in stance of of limiting the functionality of users not-agreeing to its new policy.
However, while the company has said that it’ll continue to prompt users about the new terms, its position to not limit their service isn’t permanent and might change in the future.
ViaThe Verge
With almost two decades of writing and reporting on Linux, Mayank Sharma would like everyone to think he’sTechRadar Pro’sexpert on the topic. Of course, he’s just as interested in other computing topics, particularly cybersecurity, cloud, containers, and coding.
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