WhatsApp’s new policy: Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp on Tuesday (January 5) updated its terms of service and privacy policy regarding how it processes user data and partners with Facebook to offer integrations across the social media giant’s products. The company has sent users in-app prompts informing them of the update in terms of use and also provided users time till February 8, 2021, to accept the same to continue using the messaging platform.
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WhatsApp Users in India received a pop-up notification messaging informing them about the new policy when they logged into the messaging app for the first time on Wednesday. The pop-up notification read, “By tapping AGREE, you accept the new terms and privacy policy, which take effect on February 8, 2021. After this date, you’ll need to accept these updates to continue using WhatsApp. You can also visit the Help Center if you would prefer to delete your account and would like more information.”
The company informed users that those who do not wish to accept the new terms will be provided with an option to delete their accounts, which is a standard practice in the industry. The in-app message sent to the users stated that all will need to accept these updates to continue using WhatsApp.
The pop-up message to the users further noted that the key updates include more information about WhatsApp’s service and how it processes user data; how businesses can use Facebook hosted services to store and manage their WhatsApp chats; and how WhatsApp partners with Facebook to offer integrations across the company products.
Speaking to news agency PTI, a WhatsApp spokesperson said, “As we’ve previously talked as part of WhatsApp’s business vision in October 2020, in order to enable small businesses better, we are updating our terms of service and privacy policy as we work to make WhatsApp a great way to get answers or help from a business.”
The spokesperson also said that the updated terms of service and privacy policy include additional information on how the company handles user data.
“Our updated Terms and Privacy Policy provide more information on how we process your data and our commitment to privacy.
“For example, we’ve added more information about more recent product features (like catalogs/ add to cart feature, etc) and functionalities, how we process your data for safety, security and integrity, and added more direct links to user settings, Help Center articles and how you can manage your information,” the spokesperson said.
In the past, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had indicated towards a connected, interoperable system where WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger can be used interchangeably. The last time WhatsApp updated its privacy policy globally was in 2016.
WhatsApp counts India among its biggest markets with over 400 million users. More than 175 million people message a WhatsApp Business account every day globally and more than 40 million people view a business” catalog each month — including more than 3 million in India.
In its privacy policy, WhatsApp said it works with third-party service providers and other Facebook companies to help it operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market its services.
“As part of the Facebook Companies, WhatsApp receives information from and shares information with, the other Facebook Companies.
“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,” it said.
This includes helping improve infrastructure and delivery systems; improving user experience; and providing integrations across the company’s products.
For example, allowing users to connect Facebook Pay account to pay for things on WhatsApp or enabling users to chat with friends on other Facebook products, such as Portal, it explained.
WhatsApp also asserted that it offers end-to-end encryption for its services, which protects the messages from being read by WhatsApp and third parties. Also, no third-party banner ads are allowed on WhatsApp.
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