As many would have heard, WhatsApp has had an update in its terms and conditions. Users would have received an in-app notification. “By tapping Agree, you accept the new terms, which take effect on February 8, 2021,” the notification states. “After this date, you’ll need to accept the new terms to continue using WhatsApp. You can also visit the Help Center if you would prefer to delete your account.”
Data Being Collected by WhatsApp
Users are being asked to agree to share their phone number and personal data. As well as this, the social media platform has the audacity to further ask for “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 (including identifiers unique to Facebook Company Products associated with the same device or account).”
Those who don’t accept the newer version of the privacy policy by February 8 will no longer be able to use the app. Facebook has said that this new privacy policy is designed to “offer integrations across the Facebook Company Products,” which include Instagram and Messanger.
If you don’t like the new terms and conditions, simply uninstalling the app won’t prevent WhatsApp from retaining the data they already have on you. In order to actually rid of your data, users must use the in-app feature to delete their account.
Even in the policy, it is stated that even after using this feature, some of your data will stay with the company. “When you delete your account, it does not affect your information related to the groups you created or the information other users have relating to you, such as their copy of the messages you sent them.”
A Whatsapp spokesperson had confirmed that there will be no change to WhatsApp’s data-sharing practices in Europe and the UK.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, it is still the case that WhatsApp does not share European region WhatsApp user data with Facebook for the purpose of Facebook using this data to improve its products or advertisements,” they said.
