WhatsApp Moving Forward With Privacy Changes Despite Pushback

Facebook’s WhatsApp is moving forward with controversial policies that widen the company’s data sharing abilities, despite pushback from users wanting to protect privacy.

In January, WhatsApp alerted users of a new privacy policy opening up data sharing with its partner, Facebook. Users worldwide were getting prompts about the changes but were forced to agree without other options, BGR reports. As a result, millions of WhatsApp users ditched the platform and downloaded competing apps such as Signal and Telegram, according to Reuters.  

WhatsApp is not facing any legal action currently in the United States, but Top Class Actions is tracking this story for developments.

India, on the other hand, took legal action after the government made calls to withdraw the policy, calling it discriminatory and leading to at least two legal petitions in India’s courts. An attorney representing one of those petitions said WhatsApp’s policy changes give a “360-profile” of a user’s activity. 

India wasn’t the only nation questioning the changes. Turkey’s government announced in January an investigation would be opened into what exactly the changes mean for consumers, according to Reuters.  

Critics at the time pointed to the fact that WhatsApp privacy policy changes weren’t happening in Europe. 

WhatsApp Responds to the Backlash

Following the legal moves from India, a nation with approximately 450 million WhatsApp users, WhatsApp delayed launching the new policy from Feb. 8 to May.

WhatsApp has updated its plans to roll out the new terms of service, according to a company statement posted Thursday. By pushing back the rollout date, users will have more time to understand the new terms of service. 

The app will feature a banner with more information about what the privacy policy means, according to the statement.

WhatsApp says there’s been a “great deal of misinformation” regarding its new policy. While the app is developing ways to shop with businesses, the company is making the feature entirely optional. Furthermore, WhatsApp claims in its statement personal messages will remain end-to-end encrypted. 

WhatsApp’s Encryption Commitment

In previous statements, WhatsApp said certain data will never be shared. This includes location and contact sharing. Instead, WhatsApp claims the changes to the privacy policy will allow users to message businesses. 

The social communication company reports limited data sharing is needed to allow users to discover these businesses and will allow them to shop different options. 

The messaging platform says it’s making these policy changes with data because of increasing online shopping trends. 

Breaches of privacy on social messaging apps has been generating a great deal of legal attention and social pushback. Last month a class action lawsuit was filed against popular messaging app WeChat, with users claiming WeChat cooperates with the Chinese government and violates privacy laws. 

Do you use WhatsApp? What do you think of these privacy policy changes? Let us know in the comments below. 

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