WhatsApp recently announced it would be changing its privacy policy, in a move that has many users worried about how much of their data will be shared with WhatsApp’s parent company, Facebook. Now, the service has revealed what will happen to the accounts of users who don’t agree to the new policy by the May 15 deadline.
TechCrunch contacted WhatsApp for more details on what would happen to users’ accounts if they didn’t agree to the new privacy policy. It reports that WhatsApp will “slowly ask” its users to agree to the new privacy changes, warning that they need to do so to continue having full access to the app’s features. Users who decline to accept the new policy will be able to continue using the app for a few weeks, but only in a limited way. “For a short time, these users will be able to receive calls and notifications, but will not be able to read or send messages from the app,” the company told TechCrunch.
The new privacy policy enables more sharing of data between WhatsApp and Facebook. There has been confusion about exactly what data will be shared, however. WhatsApp insists that messages sent on the platform by private users will remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning they will still be private. But messages sent to and from business users of WhatApp may be shared. The app can also collect data on individual users’ phone contacts, location, device, and IP address.
The changes to WhatsApp’s privacy policy have been controversial, with many users unhappy about the privacy implications. The detractors include the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, who has been a prominent critic of Facebook and last month encouraged his 42 million Twitter followers to use encrypted messaging app Signal instead of WhatsApp.
The new policy will come into effect on May 15 this year. If you’re a WhatsApp user and you don’t want to agree to the changes, you may wish to look into alternative messaging apps for Android or iOS.
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