On May 15, Facebook-owned WhatsApp announced a controversial privacy update that users who will not accept the new privacy policy will eventually lose access to certain features of the app like chat lists, the ability to make calls, and others.
However, Facebook has announced that the plans have been changed and said that the user experience will not be impacted regarding the compliance of new privacy policies. Additionally, the users will be reminded about the new policy if they have not accepted it already.
WhatsApp changes its approach towards privacy policy changes again
A WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge that the plan will move forward indefinitely. The policy has raised questions that WhatsApp will share more of users’ personal data with Facebook. But the company says that this is not the case.
Given recent discussions with various authorities and privacy experts, we want to make clear that we will not limit the functionality of how WhatsApp works for those who have not yet accepted the update.
The company also stated that the majority of the users have already accepted the privacy policy. The users will not face any sort of action or limited functionalities, rather they will receive regular notifications regarding the matter.
We’ll continue to display a notification in WhatsApp providing more about the update and reminding those who haven’t had a chance to do so to review and accept.
This WhatsApp privacy update is released at the time when Facebook’s personalized ads business model based on collecting users’ data is under threat by an upcoming iOS 14 ATT privacy update which will allow users to opt-out of app tracking across third-party apps and website on their smartphones. Human and digital rights organizations and Facebook employees question the social media platform ad campaign against Apple’s privacy update.
Apart from that, the social media company faces lawsuits by 46 states and federal regulators for anticompetitive behavior in the United States which are seeking to “unwound” the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp by Facebook.
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