Followed by the global outcry over the new updated privacy policy of the widely used messaging app, the Facebook-owned WhatsApp announced that it will delay the implementation by three months. The company in a blog post announced that the deadline for accepting the policy has been extended from February 8 to May 15.
Thank you to everyone who’s reached out. We're still working to counter any confusion by communicating directly with @WhatsApp users. No one will have their account suspended or deleted on Feb 8 and we’ll be moving back our business plans until after May – https://t.co/H3DeSS0QfO
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) January 15, 2021
With the app losing over 10 million users in the span of one week after the company announced the new policy, WhatsApp apparently took a step back. Saying it would use the pause to clear up misinformation around privacy and security, the messaging app highlighted that the “update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook.
Despite the company clarifying that the update does not affect data sharing with Facebook with regard to personal conversations or other profile information, the immediate rivals Telegram and Signal flocked the largest used app in India.
Noticing that its users lacked clarity and its privacy implications need to be carefully evaluated, WhatsApp seems to take a pause to clear up misinformation around privacy and security.
