- WhatsApp is delaying the launch of a new policy by three months that, according to some critics, would deliver user data to Facebook.
- Originally, users were set up to accept or refuse the policy change on February 8 and now they won’t have to do so until May 15.
- WhatsApp said the delay was due to “confusion” and “misinformation” surrounding the new policy, which “will not expand our ability to share data with Facebook”.
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WhatsApp is delaying changes to the privacy policy that critics say would force users to share personal data with Facebook, according to a company blog post published Friday.
The delay was due to “confusion” and “misinformation” around the new policy, according to the company. He said the new policy update includes only new options for people to manage their business on WhatsApp and “does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook”.
The date of implementation of the new policy will be postponed until May 15, according to the blog post. WhatsApp also reported that no one’s account will be suspended or deleted on February 8, when the policy was originally scheduled to take effect.
The announcement comes two weeks after WhatsApp announced the new change, drawing criticism from messaging app users who were concerned about the privacy of their data. After the new policy was announced, many users began to migrate to alternative messaging platforms, such as the encrypted chat app Signal. Tesla CEO Elon Musk even tweeted to “use the signal”.
WhatsApp on Monday tried to address the uproar over privacy issues with a post on its website, explaining that the update was designed to help businesses on its platform, as it reiterated in Friday’s post.
“We want to make it clear that updating the policy does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. Instead, this update includes changes related to sending messages to a company on WhatsApp, which is optional, and provides more transparency about how we collect and use data, “said WhatsApp.
Read More: Signal’s CEO reveals how it became a fierce alternative to WhatsApp without venture capital or business plan
Signal saw 7.5 million downloads last week, an increase of 4,200% since the previous week. As of Wednesday, Signal was at the top of Google and Apple’s app stores. Large user groups have also migrated to Telegram – the platform gained 9 million new users last week, up 91% from the previous week, and is also at the top of Google and Apple’s app stores.