After causing a huge virtual collapse with the announcement of their new privacy policy, and then, postponing the implementation of that policy due to online fury, WhatsApp has spent the past few weeks trying not to create problems. However, it has just revealed what will happen to users who do not accept their new privacy policy by the May 15 deadline.
WhatsApp has apparently sent e-mail to some of its business partners to inform them that it will “slowly ask” users to accept the new privacy policy “to have full functionality” of the application, according to TechCrunch, who saw an email and confirmed its veracity with WhatsApp. The email also pointed to a Public WhatsApp FAQ page titled, “What happens on the effective date?”
The FAQ page informs you that WhatsApp will not delete the accounts of users who do not accept the new terms, but that they will not be able to use it as they normally do.
“If you haven’t accepted by then, WhatsApp will not delete your account. However, you will not have all the features of WhatsApp until you accept. For a short time, you will be able to receive calls and notifications, but you will not be able to read or send messages from the app ”, wrote WhatsApp.
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If the “for a short time” paper you’re scratching your head, WhatsApp elaborated, more or less. Users who do not accept the new privacy policy of May 15th will be considered inactive users and subject to Which apps existing policy on that front, As detailed below.
“To maintain security, limit data retention and protect the privacy of our users, WhatsApp accounts are generally deleted after 120 days of inactivity,” says WhatsApp. “Content stored locally on a user’s device before deleting the account will remain until WhatsApp is deleted from the device. When a user registers again on WhatsApp on the same device, the locally stored content reappears. “
Now, after reading this, it was not yet unclear whether WhatsApp would delete accounts from people who did not accept its privacy policy after 120 days. Gizmodo contacted WhatsApp to ask for clarification. We will make sure to update this blog if we receive a response.
In addition to keeping its head down, WhatsApp has also been trying to reassure users who do not have harmful plans to share their personal data with its parent company, Facebook. (It should be noted that tcompany shares basic metadata with Facebook, such as anonymous phone identifiers, since 2016). Just to be clear, the new application privacy policy does not affect users who just use the app to send messages to friends and family right now. The changes apply only to companies that use WhatsApp to communicate with their customers.
On Thursday, WhatsApp announced that it would display a banner on the app with more information about its privacy policy “that people can read at their own pace”.
“Eventually, we will start to remind people to review and accept these updates to continue using WhatsApp,” said WhatsApp.
Interestingly, in the ad, WhatsApp mentioned that it was important for people to know “how we can provide WhatsApp for free”. The company said it charges companies to provide “customer service” on the app and involves Facebook so that companies can manage their inventory on apps.
Although some users may be outraged at Which apps huhw privacy policy – which, let’s remember, does not affect individual users for now – this business update is an important reminder that few things are really free in technology. If a service or application claims to be free, don’t forget that you probably paying for it with your data.