What is new WhatsApp’s privacy policy? Briefly Explained

WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app, has introduced changes to its privacy policy for its more than two billion users worldwide.

With the arrival of the new year, on January 5, the app sent a message to users on their phones that their accounts would be deleted if they did not agree to the new policy. Simply put, such users will not be able to use this app.

By sending a notification within the app, users have been given an "ultimatum" that they must agree to the company's terms and conditions by February 8 or their accounts will be terminated.

Note that this policy is not for EU users as these countries have separate privacy agreements with the Facebook administration. Developed countries not only secure their consumer data but also make laws.

If different companies violate these laws, they have also been fined. In this regard, the European Union has in the past imposed fines worth millions of euros on Amazon, Facebook, Google, and other companies for violating various policies.

According to Forbes magazine, WhatsApp's new policy is being called globally controversial, as evidenced by the fact that Tesla founder Elon Musk advised his fans to use the Signals app. So Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey also retweeted his tweet. According to data provided by Sensor Tower, about 100,000 people downloaded the Signals app immediately after the tweet.

Due to such heavy traffic on the company's server, the Signal app was shut down for a while, for which the management apologized, welcomed all the users, and expressed happiness.

Because of this situation, the leading tech company Microsoft has also told its customers that they can use Skype without fear as the privacy of the users is very important for the company.

Will WhatsApp share your data with Facebook?

WhatsApp's new policy, which is by owned by social networking site Facebook, will increase the company's authority over user data and allow businesses to access WhatsApp using Facebook's services. I Will not only be able to save the conversation for you.

WhatsApp has also released a new policy on its website stating that when a user forwards a media file to someone in a message, the file will be temporarily stored on their server in an encrypted manner. To make the process of forwarding that message faster and more efficient.

The company has also increased the number of details collected by users using WhatsApp, including phone model, operating system, hardware model, the signal strength of mobile phone service, time zone, internet connection. Name and IP address, service location, etc. Remember that WhatsApp will be able to get this information even when the user has turned off the location service on their phone.

To understand the new policy of WhatsApp, it is important to know that considering the popularity of WhatsApp, Facebook bought it in February 2014. Thus, another application was added to "The Facebook Company".

Facebook companies currently include companies such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Aquiles, Com, Liberal, and Threads, which share their users' data with Facebook.

What kind of  data will WhatsApp share with Facebook?

Facebook is primarily an advertising business. If you open Facebook (on a laptop) to its right or left, or on the phone, users see ads in Facebook feeds. Even videos show ads. Surprisingly, these ads are sent to the app keeping in mind the interests of the users.

This interest of users is known to Facebook when it installs the Facebook app in its phone and allows it to use its location, its gallery, its contacts, camera, mic, etc.

This means that not only can Facebook hear its user's voice, but it is also taking note of how their phone is used.

Using all this information, Facebook provides its users with "tailored" and "relevant" information of their choice by reviewing it through artificial intelligence algorithms.

How the policy say about shared data with businesses?

Facebook says that this business model is beneficial for business companies because they also deliver the same information through algorithms that are essential to the user, which increases their sales. In the business model, this is called the best user experience.

In this regard, since Facebook has expanded its platforms to include Instagram and WhatsApp, when a user shares their information on these platforms, the privacy of these companies in their privacy. Interference increases.

Concerning the online right to privacy, different countries have enacted their laws for these companies as online technology companies around the world are at risk from hackers who can steal and misuse user data which Can also be a threat to national security for different countries.

A similar incident took place in 2015