WhatsApp in damage control mode — privacy policy deadline just extended

WhatsApp in impairment control mode — privacy policy deadline just extended

(Paradigm credit: Anadolu Agency / Getty Images)

WhatsApp is in harm control way after a contempo backlash over its privacy policy, and has appear that the deadline for accepting its latest terms of service will be extended past over iii months.

While WhatsApp has maintained that nothing major is irresolute in its privacy policy, the borderline for accepting the new terms has been pushed back from February 8 to May 15. That way you lot have fifty-fifty more time to either accept, or abscond to a different service.

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All of this started after reports that WhatsApp would be changing how it shares data with parent company Facebook, and that all users would have to accept — even if they'd opted out in the past. This led to rumors spreading that WhatsApp would exist sharing contents of messages and contact lists with Facebook, which a lot of people were angry nigh.

Since then WhatsApp has tried to make it clear that messages will remain encrypted, and their contents hidden, while neither it or Facebook would be able to admission call logs, locations, or contact lists. But that hasn't stopped millions fleeing to services similar Bespeak and Telegram, to the signal where Signal struggled to cope and was down for much of the weekend.

What'southward really going on with WhatsApp privacy?

The new May 15 deadline has been put in place to give people more time to understand the new policy changes. WhatsApp insists that it'south non changed the mode it treats private conversations, and simply chats with businesses which lead to more than data existence shared with Facebook.

Specifically, this means data would but exist shared if the concern you lot're talking to uses Facebook'southward hosting services, or if you lot're making payments through WhatsApp. Too, it ways businesses can include a WhatsApp push on their Facebook page so you can contact them through Facebook itself.

Whether that will be enough to stop people leaving the platform is another matter entirely. This whole situation has reminded people that Facebook owns WhatsApp, and in that location'due south always the chance the human relationship between the two will get stronger. This was reinforced by Apple's app store policy change, which revealed exactly how much data both WhatsApp and other Facebook apps have admission to.

If you are thinking near leaving WhatsApp, regardless of how small information technology says the changes to the privacy policy are, make sure to check out our best WhatsApp alternatives. As well, if Signal's encryption and strong privacy policies are more to your liking, check out our guide on how to switch from WhatsApp to Bespeak.

Tom is the Tom'due south Guide's Automotive Editor, which ways he tin can usually be found knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It'due south long manner from his days as editor of Gizmodo Britain, when pretty much everything was on the table. He's usually found trying to squeeze some other giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of java, or complaining that Ikea won't let him purchase the stuff he really needs online.