WhatsApp is one of the best and most secured messaging apps for Android and iOS. It has always been a privacy-focused messaging app until recently when its privacy policy was revised. The Facebook-owned messaging app rolled out a new privacy policy in January 2021 that all users need to accept by February 8th (today) to continue using the app.
The new privacy policy has got many users concerned and asking questions like, it is safe to continue to use WhatsApp? While many users are still in confusion over this controversial update, there are a few things you should know about the new privacy policy update.
Firstly, let’s take a look at WhatsApp Privacy Policy for December 2019 below.
The highlighted text in the privacy policy above reads “Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA. Since we started WhatsApp, we’ve aspired to build our Services with a set of strong privacy principles in mind.” This statement, however, has been removed in the revised Privacy Policy in January 2021.
See image below.
What does this mean?
The new privacy policy states that WhatsApp will now collect some personal user data to make the platform better. The information collected will also be shared with the parent company app Facebook and its products. Your WhatsApp messages, however, will remain encrypted from end to end.
What Data will WhatsApp collect?
WhatsApp will now collect information like your phone name and model, operating system information, mobile network, IP address, signal strength, battery level, browser information, time zone, app version, payment transactions (if you’re using WhatsApp Pay), about info and other private data are collected and shared with Facebook. Some of this information will also be shared with third-party service and opens the door to the possibility of targeted ads.
If you’re not comfortable with the new policy, the best option is to stop using the service as not agreeing to these new changes will also mean you no longer want to use WhatsApp. You can switch to any of the WhatsApp alternatives listed below.