WhatsApp’s New Privacy Policy Goes Live: Here’s What You Can Lose Out If You Don’t Accept the Rules

3 min read | May 17, 2021 05:34 PM AEST | By Suhita Poddar

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WhatsApp’s New Privacy Policy Goes Live: Here’s What You Can Lose Out If You Don’t Accept the Rules — Image source: DenPhotos, Shutterstock

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Summary

WhatsApp’s new privacy policy is set to go live on 15 May, it would now start forcing users to accept the new Terms of Service.

The company had earlier said that it would be deleting users if they did not accept the new terms.

Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp had earlier this year brought out an updated term of service for data. As its new privacy policy is set to go live on 15 May, the company would now start forcing users to accept the new terms of service.

The company had earlier said that it would be deleting users if they did not accept the new terms. The controversial announcement received severe backlash from users who were not keen on sharing their data with other Facebook apps.

Notwithstanding the uproar from users, who immediately flocked to rival messaging apps, WhatsApp kept pushing the new terms. The issue become so highlighted that even in the House of Commons questions were raised regarding that. The messaging app company maintained that the change of terms was small and users are panicked due to misinformation, ironically, through WhatsApp.

In October, WhatsApp first announced plans to update the app. The new features would allow small businesses to share their catalogues directly on the app and allow any user to message a company, browse through their spread and finish a purchase without having to leave WhatsApp.

Also read: How Musk’s tweet sent a wrong ‘Signal’ soaring over 11,700%?

After the furore, the new terms were heavily criticised. The company then postponed the rollout to 15 May from 8 February. The company has now said that it would not delete users who refuse to accept the new terms. However, it would restrict users from using some of its key features like accessing their chat list. Users would be able to answer incoming video and voice calls. Those who have notifications enabled would be able to read messages by tapping on them, and the same would apply to missed voice and video calls. However, after some time, that too would be disabled and leaving users no choice but to either accept the new terms or delete the app completely.

Experts have said that acceptance of the new rules by users would be important if Facebook wanted to fulfil its dream of becoming a western equivalent of the everything app called WeChat. WeChat allows users to not only chat but also pay bills, order food, and avail essential government services. Facebook had bought WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion.

Also read: How COVID-19 pandemic zoomed up the fortune of this software firm?

Despite the latest fury, WhatsApp is on track to becoming an everything app. Less than one in four users are aware that WhatsApp wishes to change its terms and conditions despite 95 per cent of Britain’s population using the app, according to a research platform. Less than 15 per cent have said they would no longer use the app because of these changes.

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