Tag: WhatsApp

  • Working on addressing misinformation on consumer coverage replace, accessible to reply any query: WhatsApp

    A day after India requested it to withdraw adjustments to its privateness coverage, WhatsApp on Wednesday stated the proposed change doesn’t broaden its capacity to share consumer knowledge with Facebook and that it’s open to answering questions on the difficulty.
    The Indian authorities on Tuesday posed 14 inquiries to WhatsApp on its “invasive” adjustments in Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.“We wish to reinforce that this update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook. Our aim is to provide transparency and new options available to engage with businesses so they can serve their customers and grow,” a WhatsApp spokesperson stated.
    The spokesperson added that WhatsApp will all the time defend private messages with end-to-end encryption, in order that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see them.
    “We are working to address misinformation and remain available to answer any questions,” the spokesperson additional acknowledged.
    In a strongly worded letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has stated the proposed adjustments to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, with out giving customers an choice to opt-out, “raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens”.
    The letter famous that with over 400 million customers in India, the adjustments could have a disproportionate impression on the nation’s residents, it stated.
    It has additionally requested WhatsApp to offer particulars of the companies supplied by it in India, classes of knowledge collected and permissions and consents sought. It has additionally requested WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed adjustments and rethink its strategy to info privateness, freedom of alternative and knowledge safety.

    WhatsApp had earlier this month begun asking its 2 billion customers worldwide to just accept an replace of its privateness coverage in the event that they wish to preserve utilizing the favored messaging app. The new phrases precipitated an outcry amongst know-how consultants, privateness advocates and customers and triggered a wave of defections to rival companies similar to Signal and Telegram.
    In the up to date coverage, it received a proper to share knowledge it collected from WhatsApp customers with the broader Facebook community, which incorporates Instagram, no matter proudly owning any accounts or profiles there. Some companies, as per the brand new coverage, had been to make use of Facebook-owned servers to retailer messages.
    This triggered an outcry no matter WhatsApp’s assertion that each one non-public messages between family and friends members stay end-to-end encrypted.
    WhatsApp had on January 16 delayed the introduction of the brand new privateness coverage to May 15 after consumer backlash over sharing of consumer knowledge and data with the guardian firm, Facebook Inc.
    “No one will have their account suspended or deleted on February 8. We’re also going to do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp. We’ll then go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15,” WhatsApp had stated within the weblog publish.
    It additionally sought to assuage consumer issues by its tweets by its Global Head Will Cathcart and even full-page advertisements in main dailies in India.

  • Signal: How so as to add new animated or common Stickers and ship them to pals

    If you’ve switched from WhatsApp to Signal, then you definately is perhaps lacking Stickers. Both Telegram and WhatsApp supply a variety of sticker packs, however you’ll find only a few sticker packs in Signal messaging app. Stickers are probably the greatest methods to precise your feelings and also you is perhaps fascinated by how one can add extra sticker packs to Signal. Well, you don’t actually need to do something and it’ll take solely two minutes so as to add new animated or common stickers to the messaging app.
    Unlike WhatsApp, you don’t want to put in a third-party app for stickers. Signal customers simply want to go to a web site, seek for stickers, set up and use them. The under talked about additionally enables you to use a number of the cool Telegram stickers, which is simply nice because the app has the most effective stickers. Now, learn on to know extra about how one can add new animated or common Stickers and ship them to Signal pals.
    Signal: How so as to add new Stickers and ship to pals
    Step 1: You simply have to sort Signal Stickers on Google and faucet on SignalStickers.com web site. Here, you’ll find a ton of animated or common sticker packs for Signal.

    Step 2: Now, all it’s essential to do is sort something on the search bar and the positioning will present stickers packs associated to that. If you might be confused, then you’ll be able to faucet on the labels, together with meme, animated, and privateness, and the positioning will show a variety of sticker packs.

    Step 3: Select anyone Sticker by tapping on it. The web site will present you all of the stickers in that individual pack.

    Step 4: In order so as to add the brand new Stickers to Signal, you simply have to faucet on ‘Add to Signal’ button. You then have to press on “Set To Always Open,” as proven within the screenshot. Tap on the ‘Install’ button. All the stickers will then be added to the Stickers part in Signal.
    You can examine all of the just lately added sticker packs by tapping on the + icon, which is positioned within the Stickers part. Here, the messaging app shows all of the sticker packs that you’ve used till now or the stickers you’ve alternate with pals. This additionally means you can straight use the brand new stickers shared by your mates and also you don’t have to go to the positioning and add them. Though, once you press on the shared sticker packs you can be requested to put in, then solely it is possible for you to to make use of your mates’ stickers.

  • WhatsApp privateness coverage: Sanctity and privilege of private communication must be maintained: Prasad

    Without divulging what motion his ministry intends to tackle the brand new privateness coverage of WhatsApp on sharing business person knowledge with dad or mum Facebook, communications and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday categorically stated that sanctity and privilege of private communications must be maintained.
    Responding to a query by Indian Express Group’s government director, Anant Goenka on the fifteenth India Digital Summit organised by IAMAI, Prasad stated that every one digital firms are free to function in India however with out impinging upon the rights of Indians. “This is an issue that my department is working on, and being the final authority, it will not be proper for me to make comments, except to flag one thing very clearly, be it WhatsApp, be it Facebook, be it any digital platform, you are free to do business in India but do it in a manner without impinging upon the rights of Indians who operate there,” Prasad stated. He added, “I’ve only spoken on principles, given that my department is working. I have to await that”.

    Citing examples, Prasad stated that a physician speaking to his affected person, a lawyer speaking to his shopper or a household speaking amongst one another on WhatsApp group are all privileged communications and sanctity of that must be revered.
    This is the primary time that the minister was talking on the brand new privateness coverage of the favored encrypted messaging app, WhatsApp which has raised an enormous person backlash, a lot in order that the corporate which was to implement it from February 8 has put it on maintain until May 15.

    While doing every little thing to guard knowledge privateness, Prasad stated that he desires India to change into a giant centre of knowledge economic system. He stated that the nation had the potential to change into an information refinery the place knowledge cleansing, knowledge processing, knowledge innovation can occur. “So many new data centres are coming in the private sector. Data economy must prosper in India by developing a complete ecosystem in this regard,” the minister stated. He, nevertheless, stated as knowledge is linked to digital sovereignty of the nation, it should be procured by way of consent and on voluntary foundation and should be used for the target for which it has been collected and the info fiduciary who procures the info should guarantee correct security and sanctity of the info.
    “I do acknowledge the implicit need of the data movement across the globe to keep the digital commerce intact but the ground rule is that movement must be clearly laid out. There must be reciprocity of data sharing and we shall never compromise on data sovereignty,” Prasad stated. He additionally stated that the Data Protection Bill is beneath examination by the choose committee of Parliament and as soon as the report comes, it will likely be fast-tracked for Parliament’s approval.
    On 5G, the minister requested Indian gamers to create an Indian 5G mannequin. “As far as 5G is concerned, it is still evolving. We missed 2G and 3G but we don’t want to miss 5G. Therefore, we developed an Indian test bed, and IITs are involved, so that all innovative aspects of 5G can be considered. 5G must be developed in order to enable inclusive character of its processes for healthcare, education, farming. India’s appetite for 5G will be overpowering as a good commercial enterprise,” he stated.

    India asks #WhatsApp to withdraw adjustments to privateness coveragehttps://t.co/AEEqheJbx5
    — Express Technology (@ExpressTechie) January 19, 2021
    On production-linked incentive scheme for home handset manufacturing, Prasad stated it was launched through the peak of COVID in April 2020 and regardless of that every one the highest firms have utilized with dedication to make cell phones value Rs 10 lakh crore within the coming 5 years, of which Rs 7 lakh crore is for exports.
    “India is today the hub of mobile manufacturing and this process is irreversible… India must become the biggest manufacturing centre of laptops, of machine-2-machine equipment, of tablets etc. I want to develop that ecosystem from mobile phones to smartphones to laptops to tablets to IoT devices. India must become a huge centre of these equipment manufacturing,” he stated.
    On participation of Chinese firms in providing their merchandise in India, Prasad stated it could not be prudent or fascinating for him to take the title of any nation besides to spotlight the overall coverage initiative which the nation is following. “Yes, we banned apps because the issue was data privacy, issue was national security, issue was national sovereignty. Therefore, in any exposure of companies, national security angle will also be taken, be it private or government. As far as the relevant financial routes are concerned, some changes have also taken place with regard to countries having physical adjacency with India,” he stated.

  • IAMAI India Digital Summit: Our cyber world can’t be dominated by non-public firm insurance policies, says Paytm founder

    “We cannot have our cyber world ruled and governed by private company policies,” Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder of Paytm stated in a dialog with Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express Group. The two interacted on the India Digital Summit 2021 organised by the IAMAI (Internet and Mobile Association of India).  Sharma additionally spoke concerning the significance of privateness insurance policies, and the way they have an effect on customers within the nation. Check out the total video under.

    Speaking about an Indian various to standard companies like Google and Facebook, Sharma additionally defined that simply because a product is made in India is not going to assure its supremacy and that in the end, stressing that the superior product that may come out on high. He urged that the main focus must be on making a superior product relatively than an Indian product.
    “I think India will make the world’s most superior products, and that is why we will win,” he added.
    Sharma additionally shared his views on an all-Indian app retailer managed and never a business firm that doesn’t originate from India. “An app store that is controlled by the laws of this country, irrespective of who operates it”, he stated through the dialog.

    Regulations at all times come after innovation, says Sharma
    On being requested if an information safety invoice was too late to be thought of, Sharma defined that it’s at all times the innovation that comes first and the regulators that step in later. “Regulators by the government are followers by design,” said Sharma, including that “they cannot make a rule for a technology that is still in beta”.
    Sharma additionally urged that the federal government will step within the technology-business sector similar to it has been implementing guidelines and regulation in different areas. “The governments not just in India, but across the world, are far more actively participating in this business model,” he added.
    Data must be protected throughout the nation
    Drawing a parallel to Indian residents and sources being shielded from exterior interference by the borders, Sharma additionally added that the info generated in India also needs to be protected in the same method throughout the nation’s borders. “That data can be abused by commercial companies, and you would underestimate how,” Sharma stated.
    He insisted that there’s nothing stopping ‘data that needs to be processed first’, from being processed in India itself. He added that each authorities and firms ought to take a look at India past being only a market, but additionally the sizeable supply of knowledge that it’s.

  • India asks WhatsApp to withdraw adjustments to privateness coverage

    The Indian authorities has requested WhatsApp to withdraw the current adjustments within the privateness coverage of the messaging app, saying unilateral adjustments aren’t truthful and acceptable.
    In a strongly worded letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology mentioned India is residence to the most important consumer base of WhatsApp globally and is one the largest markets for its companies.
    The proposed adjustments to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy “raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens,” it wrote.
    The ministry requested WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed adjustments and rethink its strategy to info privateness, freedom of selection and knowledge safety.
    Stating that Indians ought to be correctly revered, it mentioned, “any unilateral changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy would not be fair and acceptable.”

  • ‘It is voluntary’: Delhi HC tells petitioner to not be part of WhatsApp if not accepting new privateness coverage

    Image Source : INDIA TV (FILE) ‘It is voluntary’: Delhi HC tells petitioner to not be part of WhatsApp if not accepting new privateness coverage
    The Delhi High Court on Monday stated accepting the brand new privateness coverage of social messaging app WhatsApp was a “voluntary” factor and one can select to not use or be part of that platform if one didn’t agree with its phrases and situations.

    “It is a private app. Don’t join it. It is a voluntary thing, don’t accept it. Use some other app,” Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva stated to the petitioner, a lawyer, who has challenged WhatsApp’s new privateness coverage which was slated to return into impact in February however has been deferred until May. The courtroom additionally stated that if the phrases and situations of most cell apps are learn, “you would be surprised as to what all you are consenting to”.

    “Even Google maps captures all your data and stores it,” the courtroom stated.

    The courtroom additional stated it couldn’t perceive what knowledge could be leaked in response to the petitioner and because the subject requires consideration, it is going to be listed on January 25 because of paucity of time on Monday.

    The central authorities additionally agreed with the courtroom that the problem must be analysed.  

    WhatsApp and Facebook, represented by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi, advised the courtroom that the plea was not maintainable and most of the points raised in it have been with none basis.

    They additional advised the courtroom that personal chat messages between household and pals would stay encrypted and can’t be saved by WhatsApp and this place wouldn’t change below the brand new coverage.

    The change in coverage would solely have an effect on the enterprise chats on WhatsApp, they stated.

    The petition, by a lawyer, has contended that the up to date privateness coverage violates customers proper to privateness below the Constitution.

    The plea has claimed that the brand new privateness coverage of WhatsApp permits full entry right into a person’s on-line exercise with out there being any supervision by the federal government.

    Under the brand new coverage, customers can both settle for it or exit the app, however they can’t choose to not share their knowledge with different Facebook-owned or third get together apps. 

    The lawyer showing for the petitioner claimed that the choice to not agree with the brand new coverage was given to customers in European nations, however not in India.

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  • After recusal, WhatsApp case goes to completely different Delhi HC decide

    With a Delhi High Court decide recusing herself final week from the WhatsApp privateness coverage case, the petition in search of a right away injunction in opposition to the messaging firm’s up to date phrases can be heard by a distinct decide on Monday. In the petition filed by a lawyer, a route has additionally been sought to the Centre for laying down pointers to make sure WhatsApp doesn’t share information with third events or Facebook Inc.
    Justice Prathiba M Singh on Friday recused herself from listening to the matter. She had additionally had taken sturdy exception to an e-mail obtained by the court docket from a counsel representing WhatsApp about her having appeared as a lawyer beforehand in a associated litigation. The decide mentioned there was no want for the e-mail as she in any case wouldn’t have heard the case. The case is now listed for listening to earlier than Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva. Since the final listening to, WhatsApp has introduced it’s delaying the implementation of its new privateness coverage to May 15.

  • Signal, Telegram: How to cease getting new mates joined alerts

    Switched to Signal or Telegram? If sure, then you definitely might need acquired some notifications from these messaging apps, alerting you that your folks have additionally joined. As lots of people are migrating to Signal or Telegram, it’s a bit annoying to get new mates joined alerts on high of the display. You are notified when somebody that’s saved in your contact listing is a brand new Signal or Telegram person. Thankfully, each the platforms provide the choice to disable these alerts in your telephone.
    All you have to do is flip off the ‘Contact joined’ choice from the settings part. If you’re nonetheless looking for this selection, then observe the beneath written steps to disable new mates joined choice. If you don’t wish to flip off the choice, then you possibly can merely archive the chats everytime you get the alert. The messaging apps allow you to unarchive chats anytime you need. You will discover the Archived chats on the finish of all of the chats. You then simply have to faucet on the ‘Archived’ choice to see what all chats you’ve got archived.
    How to cease Telegram from sending new mates joined alerts
    Step 1: Open Telegram, and faucet on the hamburger button, which is situated on the highest left nook of the display.
    Step 2: Go to the Settings part after which soar to Notifications and Sounds.
    Step 3: Scroll down and faucet on ‘Contact joined Telegram.’
    How to cease Signal from sending new mates joined alerts
    Step 1: Open Signal in your Android smartphone after which faucet on the three-dotted icon, situated on the highest proper aspect of the display.
    Step 2: Got to Settings > Notifications.
    Step 3: Now, scroll down and toggle off the ‘Contact joined Signal.’ The steps are comparable for the iOS model too.

  • WhatsApp privateness coverage replace delayed: Everything that has occurred up to now

    WhatsApp has introduced that it’s delaying implementation of the brand new privateness coverage until May 2021, as the corporate needs customers to know the brand new phrases after which agree. It admitted that the brand new coverage has precipitated loads of confusion and there was plenty of misinformation concerning the adjustments as nicely. Further, WhatsApp as additionally promised that it’ll not delete anybody’s account on February 8.
    The Facebook-owned firm is giving customers no less than three months of time to correctly assessment and settle for the coverage. WhatsApp stated that the privateness coverage will come into impact on May 15. Here’s a have a look at how all this began and what the state of affairs is presently.
    WhatsApp updates privateness coverage on January 4
    Earlier this month, WhatsApp up to date its privateness coverage and requested customers to conform to the adjustments earlier than February 8. The new updates included extra details about how companies use Facebook hosted providers to retailer and handle their WhatsApp chats. It additionally expanded on how WhatsApp companions with Facebook to supply integrations throughout the Facebook Company.

    WhatsApp highlighted that the brand new privateness coverage would additionally affect consumer interactions with enterprise accounts, a lot of which could use Facebook’s internet hosting providers. The knowledge sharing with Facebook was already happening since 2016, when the final main replace to the privateness coverage happened. But remember, WhatsApp by no means stated it will share consumer knowledge corresponding to chats or group names or group chats with Facebook.

    Read extra: WhatsApp delays up to date privateness coverage after complicated customers

    WhatsApp confronted backlash, folks moved to sign or Telegram
    The new privateness coverage, whereas it didn’t change something for private chats, precipitated plenty of alarm. Many have been sad with the ‘accept or leave’ circumstances that WhatsApp had added within the phrases and circumstances. Further privateness points have been raised and plenty of misinformation additionally unfold concerning the app.
    Due to privateness points, many customers switched to Signal, which is a extra privateness centered messaging app. As a consequence, Signal achieved the primary place on App Store in India and quantity three place on Google Play. Lots of people began downloading the non-public messaging app when Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly urged customers to make use of Signal. Many additionally moved to Telegram as it’s a feature-rich messaging app.
    Whatsapp points clarification
    As folks have been involved about privateness and deliberate emigrate to different messaging apps, WhatsApp clarified that neither it nor Facebook can see customers’ non-public messages or hear their calls. The firm stated that every one the messages are end-to-end encrypted, and it doesn’t maintain logs of who folks message or name. The service additionally tried to make clear that WhatsApp can’t see the shared location (neither can Facebook), and it doesn’t share customers’ contacts with Facebook.

    “WhatsApp was built on a simple idea: what you share with your friends and family stays between you. This means we will always protect your personal conversations with end-to-end encryption, so that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see these private messages. It’s why we don’t keep logs of who everyone”s messaging or calling. We can also’t see your shared location and we don’t share your contacts with Facebook,” it stated.
    But it did make clear once more that enterprise chats between customers and enterprise accounts have been impacted below the brand new coverage.  As the brand new coverage underlined,  messaging a enterprise on WhatsApp just isn’t the identical as one-on-one chat together with your family and friends, given a enterprise might use a third-party service to handle and host these chats. It might additionally use Facebook’s providers to handle these chats and later use this knowledge to say run an commercial on the social media community. Read extra on how that’s impacted right here.

    In depth: Explained: How non-public is WhatsApp, what can Facebook see and do you have to have a look at options?

    WhatsApp extends deadline of privateness coverage settlement
    WhatsApp had requested its customers to just accept the brand new privateness coverage by February 8, nevertheless it has now prolonged the deadline to May 15. The firm believes that customers are confused about their new phrases and that they don’t have correct readability on the most recent privateness coverage. WhatsApp has additionally confirmed the account of customers gained’t be deleted on February 8.
    “We’re now moving back the date on which people will be asked to review and accept the terms. No one will have their account suspended or deleted on February 8. We’re also going to do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp. We’ll then go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15,” the corporate stated in a brand new blogpost.