According to media reports, WhatsApp has issued a statement about its new privacy policy. According to the new privacy policy, WhatsApp will share account registration information, phone numbers, transaction data, service-related information, interactions on the platform, mobile device information, IP address, and other data collected based on users’ consent, a new update says.
To address the privacy concerns, WhatsApp issues a statement on 8th January, which states that the new update “does not change WhatsApp’s data-sharing practices with Facebook”.
A spokesperson from WhatApp spoke to Quint about the new update, “For users who do not agree with the new WhatsApp terms of service, they will not be able to use the app after February 8. However, contrary to the general held perception, the user’s account will not be deleted after February 8.”
WhatsApp also issued a public statement regarding the privacy matter :
“As we announced in October, WhatsApp wants to make it easier for people to both make a purchase and get help from a business directly on WhatsApp. While most people use WhatsApp to chat with friends and family, increasingly people are reaching out to businesses as well.”
“To further increase transparency, we updated the privacy policy to describe that going forward businesses can choose to receive secure hosting services from our parent company Facebook to help manage their communications with their customers on WhatsApp. Though of course, it remains up to the user whether or not they want to message with a business on WhatsApp”.
“We are communicating directly with users through WhatsApp about these changes so they have time to review the new policy over the course of the next month,” the statement added.
