WhatsApp Privacy Policy: The New policy terms that you need to accept before February 8 during this announcement WhatsApp also re-explained that all WhatsApp chat messages are protected by end-to-end encryption.
Users will get a New WhatsApp Privacy Policy pop-up notification about policy terms being updated and the user has to accept this WhatsApp data privacy policy before February 8 It clarifies that if a user doesn’t accept these new terms and conditions about WhatsApp data privacy then the user can’t able to access their WhatsApp account.
WhatsApp is the most loved messaging app by people around the world but now this new WhatsApp update raised many questions about data privacy as this new WhatsApp privacy policy indicates that it’s sharing personal data with its Parent company Facebook makes everyone worry about their data being shared. So, people started thinking about the alternative messaging app and there were already apps like Telegram and Signal available with a good number of users.
Well, it’s an obvious question will people accept the WhatsApp privacy policy or not? And if they accept it then what’s the impact of it on the social life of people on Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram? The concern is also how dangerous sharing data with its integrated apps like Facebook and Instagram or selling your data to another business. So, Let’s see detailed information about it and all the aspects of this new WhatsApp privacy policy.
Is your data at risk? What’s the new WhatsApp privacy policy?
Well, some years ago in 2014 when Facebook bought WhatsApp, they clearly said that WhatsApp users’ data would never be shared with Facebook and in last year’s update, they also assured users about End-to-End Encryption which means WhatsApp messages of the user whether sent or received accept both no one can able to see it not even WhatsApp own cloud server can have access of it.
But now as time passes new policies and new rules about to be launched and this new policy is changed whatever was launched or introduced in the previous year’s policies. WhatsApp is going to use its users’ data and clear that it will be shared with Facebook and other third-party companies. As per WhatsApp, they use this data to show related ads on their parent app Facebook.
You know Instagram is already integrated into Facebook and now the same plan is for WhatsApp also. The intention behind this policy update is they can have access to users’ data and based on this data they can show appropriate ads on Facebook by having this much data they can sell it to other third-party companies also and can able to make a good amount of money.
What is in the new WhatsApp privacy policy 2021? Key concerns?
According to this new updated WhatsApp policy by allowing it WhatsApp may share your data with its Family of companies to “Facilitate, support and integrate their activities and improve their services.”
Well, users started getting notified which appears on WhatsApp. It may have come on your device will come shortly. You need to choose between two options whether choosing to accept or choose Not now.
If you do not want to accept it now then you have time to accept the new WhatsApp privacy policy till 8th Feb 2021 after that it will stop working. But before accepting policy according to our personnel opinion read new policy terms and conditions.
Let’s check what’s in this new agreement:
WhatsApp can store your data like profile pic, status, chats, and even your calls.
They can able to check your location, mobile brand, WIFI information, what you are using, and everything you have on your mobile.
They can also get information about who is connected to your router or mobile hotspot even if they have not installed the What’s App on their mobile phones.
WhatsApp says about this agreement “We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings, including the Facebook Company Products,”
How does it affect WhatsApp messages?
According to WhatsApp “We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings, including the Facebook Company Products,” And also said that they don’t store users messages once message delivered, messages stored on users devices and only undelivered messages available on the server till messaged get delivered.
These undelivered messages are also stored for only 30 days after 30 days it automatically get deleted.
WhatsApp also added “When a user forwards media within a message, we store that media temporarily in encrypted form on our servers to aid in the more efficient delivery of additional forwards,”
How does it affect WhatsApp Pay transaction data?
Now that WhatsApp has launched a payment feature in India, it says that if you use WhatsApp Pay, additional information, including payment account and transaction information is processed by the company.
This is the information required to complete the transaction such as payment method, shipping details, and transaction amount. WhatsApp Says “If you use our payment services available in your country or territory, our privacy practices are described in the applicable payments privacy policy,” WhatsApp ads?
WhatsApp Says on Allowing third parties on its services “We have no intention to introduce them, but if we ever do, we will update this Privacy Policy,” Well, WhatsApp can use your information to communicate show ads and market its services and this data also may get shared to other companies of Facebook-like Messenger, Instagram, Portal-branded devices, Oculus Products, Facebook Shops, Spark AR Studio, Audience Network, NPE Team apps and any other features, apps, technologies, software, products or services offered by Facebook Inc.
How does it affect WhatsApp Businesses?
WhatsApp says “Some businesses will be able to choose WhatsApp’s parent company, practices Facebook, to securely store messages and respond to customers. While Facebook will not automatically use your messages to inform the ads that you see, businesses will be able to use chats they receive for their marketing purposes, which may include advertising on Facebook. You can always contact that business to learn more about its privacy practices,”
Available WhatsApp Alternatives?
WhatsApp cleared that you have to accept these new WhatsApp privacy policy terms and conditions to use it and it also suggests if you do not want to accept the policy then you can delete your WhatsApp Account.
Users who have already been notified and accepted the new policy but now changed their minds and want to share data with Facebook and other third-party companies have an option of an additional 30 days to opt-out and delete their Account.
If you decide to move on to the alternative chatting application. There were many alternatives available on the Play Store but currently, the best suitable WhatsApp-like alternative apps are Telegram and Signal. People do not want to accept this new WhatsApp privacy policy and protest also. Apple is also not in favour of this new update policy and also said that if WhatsApp wants to continue with them then they have to remove the new policy otherwise they remove WhatsApp from their Appstore.
How to delete your WhatsApp account?
According to WhatsApp if a user deletes an Account, messages will automatically get deleted from servers that were in undelivered status Well, if you want to discontinue using a WhatsApp Account then just uninstalling it is not enough you must need to delete your account from WhatsApp. You will find this option below Path
Setting->Account and now select “Delete my Account”
WhatsApp says that when you delete your WhatsApp account, your undelivered messages are deleted from its servers along with any of your other information it no longer needs to operate and provide its services. However, users must ensure they not only uninstall WhatsApp but must delete their account from WhatsApp.
This can be done by going to settings > Account and selecting ‘Delete my account’
WhatsApp also said “Please remember that when you delete your account, it does not affect the information other users have relating to you, such as their copy of the messages you sent them,”
FAQ
Is WhatsApp safe and private?
According to WhatsApp “Some of your most personal moments are shared with WhatsApp, which is why we built end-to-end encryption into our app. When end-to-end encrypted, your messages, photos, videos, voice messages, documents, and calls are secured from falling into the wrong hands.”
