With the coming of the year 2021, chat messaging app, WhatsApp recently introduced its new privacy policy.
But don’t just quickly click on the “Agree” button if you haven’t read what’s new on this messaging application.
The Filipino Times lists down the changes introduced and what you should know about this new update.
1. Agree or Deactivate your account
This isn’t the first time that applications for smartphones update their terms of service and privacy policy. However, WhatsApp is only giving users up to February 8, 2021, to decide on whether they want to accept the new policy or deactivate their account permanently.
2. Increasing link-up with Facebook
Ever since its acquisition by Facebook in 2014, changes have been applied to the app. The latest change is that messaging another user can be done across all platforms that Facebook owns including WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. The application will, however, maintain its end-to-end encryption, which means, it still can’t see your messages nor share it with anyone.
3. Third party service may receive information about what you or others share
Yes. You read that right. According to WhatsApp, when you as a user sign up for this service, your information such as IP address may be provided to the third-party in question or to another product owned by Facebook.
This means more people will have greater access to your data. Data could include information around safety and security around Facebook products and service experience such as making suggestions for users, personalized content around purchases and transactions.
4. Hardware information, location and storage collection too
They will also collect new information from your device, including battery level, signal strength, app version, browser information, mobile network, connection information (including phone number, mobile operator or ISP), language and time zone, IP address, device operations information and identifiers. They will still collect “IP addresses and other information like phone number area codes to estimate your general location (city, country).”
5. Deleting the app won’t remove user information
According to the new update, it can still store the user’s information on the platform if the user does not use the in-app delete my account feature.
There’s still less than a month to think about this. With the changes listed here, will it be a yay or a nay? (ES)
