Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

SecurityWeekSecurityWeek

Management & Strategy

WhatsApp Delays Enforcing New Privacy Terms

Facebook-owned messaging colossus WhatsApp on Friday retreated again from its plan to force users to accept new terms which critics said could expand data collection from its two billion users around the world.

Facebook-owned messaging colossus WhatsApp on Friday retreated again from its plan to force users to accept new terms which critics said could expand data collection from its two billion users around the world.

WhatsApp, which was set to enforce its new data-sharing policy on May 15 — following a delay in response to a user outcry — revealed on its website that it would not immediately cut off users who don’t accept the new terms, although it would send reminders to those who don’t opt in.

The update will allow additional sharing of information from WhatsApp with Facebook and its other applications such as Instagram and Messenger, such as contacts and profile data, but not the content of messages which remain encrypted.

The platform had claimed the update was chiefly aimed at merchants who use WhatsApp to chat with customers — allowing them to share data with Facebook.

But critics feared it could open the door to broader data sharing with Facebook with potential implications for user privacy.

“No one will have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of WhatsApp on May 15th because of this update,” according to the latest website update, which was seen earlier by The Verge and other media outlets.

But users will get “persistent” reminders about the policy and may lose some functionality if they fail to accept the new terms.

“After giving everyone time to review, we’re continuing to remind those who haven’t had the chance to do so to review and accept,” the web page said.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“After a period of several weeks, the reminder people receive will eventually become persistent.”

At some point, users will “encounter limited functionality on WhatsApp until you accept the updates,” according to the WhatsApp page.

“You won’t be able to access your chat list, but you can still answer incoming phone and video calls.. After a few weeks of limited functionality, you won’t be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone.”

The flap over WhatsApp’s privacy policy — described by Facebook as a misunderstanding about efforts to bring businesses onto the platform — is among the latest episodes highlighting concerns over the tech giant’s privacy and data protection policies.

Related: WhatsApp Defends Encryption as It Tops 2 Billion Users

Related: WhatsApp Delays Data Sharing Change After Backlash

Related: WhatsApp Stresses Privacy as Users Flock to Rivals

Written By

AFP 2023

Click to comment

Trending

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest threats, trends, and technology, along with insightful columns from industry experts.

Join the session as we discuss the challenges and best practices for cybersecurity leaders managing cloud identities.

Register

SecurityWeek’s Ransomware Resilience and Recovery Summit helps businesses to plan, prepare, and recover from a ransomware incident.

Register

Expert Insights

Related Content

Application Security

Cycode, a startup that provides solutions for protecting software source code, emerged from stealth mode on Tuesday with $4.6 million in seed funding.

CISO Strategy

SecurityWeek spoke with more than 300 cybersecurity experts to see what is bubbling beneath the surface, and examine how those evolving threats will present...

CISO Conversations

Joanna Burkey, CISO at HP, and Kevin Cross, CISO at Dell, discuss how the role of a CISO is different for a multinational corporation...

CISO Conversations

In this issue of CISO Conversations we talk to two CISOs about solving the CISO/CIO conflict by combining the roles under one person.

CISO Strategy

Security professionals understand the need for resilience in their company’s security posture, but often fail to build their own psychological resilience to stress.

Management & Strategy

SecurityWeek examines how a layoff-induced influx of experienced professionals into the job seeker market is affecting or might affect, the skills gap and recruitment...

Cybersecurity Funding

2022 Cybersecurity Year in Review: Top news headlines and trends that impacted the security ecosystem