WhatsApp postpones update of privacy policy after users switch to competitors

(CMR) WhatsApp is now working to address confusion over its new privacy policy, which resulted in users migrating to other messaging applications.

Several users switched to other messaging applications such as Telegram and Signal after WhatsApp's revised privacy policy indicated increased user data sharing with Facebook.

The messaging application said there was confusion about the new policy and has opted to delay the new privacy policy for three months, but it is not canceled.

However, countries such as India have been calling on WhatsApp to completely cancel the policy, stating that it would disregard citizens' rights. India represents one of WhatApp's largest markets.

WhatsApp has since said that the update does not expand its ability to share data with Facebook. Instead, it s provides further transparency about how user data is collected and shared when using a new tool for messaging a business on WhatsApp.  WhatsApp said,

With these updates, none of that is changing. Instead, the update includes new options people will have to message a business on WhatsApp, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data. While not everyone shops with a business on WhatsApp today, we think that more people will choose to do so in the future and it's important people are aware of these services. This update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook.

WhatsApp is now planning to move back the date for people to review and accept the new terms and conditions from February to May. It said no accounts would be deleted or suspended on February 8, as was originally stated.

When WhatsApp announced the change earlier this month, people believed that WhatsApp would share additional data with Facebook, such as phone number, service-related information, IP address, and transaction data.

WhatsApp has since said the update does not affect data sharing with Facebook in terms of user chats or profile information, but that the new terms instead applied to those who use the business chat feature.

WhatsApp has shared some user information with Facebook since 2016, but chat messages and phone calls remain private and protected with end-to-end encryption.