A few days back, WhatsApp introduced a new privacy policy that would give Facebook the power to access WhatsApp data. Users were asked to accept it if they continue want to use WhatsApp. The policy change was scheduled to come into effect on February 8. Users across the globe didn’t like it and the company was criticized a lot for making these privacy policy changes. Thousands of users also moved to Signal. So, the company has now delayed the new privacy policy by three months.
WhatsApp has also clarified that the new privacy policy won’t change the way it handles personal conversations. The company is making changes only for business chats to let businesses offer improved customer service through WhatsApp.
“We’ve heard from so many people how much confusion there is around our recent update. There”s been a lot of misinformation causing concern and we want to help everyone understand our principles and the facts,” WhatsApp said in a company blog.
WhatsApp has also spent money in the full front-page advertisement in leading newspapers across the country to reach people and make them understand that chats are still private and end-to-end encrypted. The company will also take more steps in the future to clear its stand on users’ privacy.
“We’re also going to do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp. We”ll then go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15,” it added.
WhatsApp also said that no one will lose access to the app if they fail to agree with the new privacy policy.
Source: WhatsApp Blog
