1. Why did the coverage create controversy?
When it first got here out in January, many thought that the brand new privateness coverage would permit WhatsApp to see customers’ personal messages, and that the corporate might share such messages with its father or mother firm, Facebook Inc. More importantly, the coverage was conveyed to customers as an ultimatum, giving them until 8 February to just accept the brand new coverage or lose entry to the social messaging app. WhatsApp had later claimed that the brand new coverage doesn’t have an effect on customers’ personal messages, deferred the replace to fifteen May, and stated it could present extra info on the coverage.
View Full PictureThe social messaging platform has stated that the brand new privateness coverage doesn’t have an effect on customers’ personal messages
2. Can you select to not settle for the coverage?
WhatsApp has clarified that no accounts might be deleted or deactivated for not accepting the platform’s new coverage by 15 May. However, the corporate’s reminders to customers about accepting the coverage will turn into “persistent” after “several weeks”. Users will have the ability to reply incoming calls throughout this time and get notifications for incoming chats, which they’ll have the ability to reply to. However, they gained’t have the ability to entry the precise chat record on the platform. Eventually, the platform will take away the power to obtain calls or notifications and also you will be unable to ship messages.
3. What is WhatsApp’s stance on the matter?
The social messaging platform has stated that the brand new privateness coverage doesn’t have an effect on customers’ personal messages and is an effort at being clearer about upcoming enterprise options. The Facebook-owned firm claims that the brand new phrases of service don’t change what knowledge WhatsApp can entry and what it retains.
4. What is the regulatory stance on this?
The Centre had written to WhatsApp, asking the platform to withdraw its coverage. In a letter to WhatsApp in January, the Centre stated the coverage could also be in violation of the nation’s upcoming knowledge safety legal guidelines. The Centre had alleged that the coverage violated the nation’s IT guidelines and urged the Delhi excessive courtroom to restrain the app from implementing it. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had additionally determined to take “suo moto cognizance” of the matter in March, which WhatsApp tried to oppose.
5. Are there alternate options to WhatsApp?
Apps equivalent to Signal and Telegram have gained reputation for the reason that controversy. The two platforms, which additionally provide end-to-end encrypted companies, have been downloaded hundreds of thousands of instances since January this 12 months, although neither platform comes near the consumer base that WhatsApp has now. Less-known apps equivalent to Threema and Wire have additionally been advisable. Most knowledge sources counsel that WhatsApp’s consumer base in India has remained largely unaffected by the controversy.
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