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March 6th, 2021
Many of our readers use WhatsApp to keep updated with friends and family. However, recently they have been trying to force their users to accept their new privacy policy, going as far as to update it since their users refused to accept it the first time. They hope that by updating it, users will be more willing to accept it. But why would an updated privacy policy be such a big deal? We examine what WhatsApp’s controversial privacy policy means, why people refuse to accept it, and is WhatsApp safe.
What is WhatsApp’s New Controversial Privacy Policy?
WhatsApp promises its users end-to-end encrypted messages when messaging friends and family, meaning that app officials can’t read what you’re texting or listen to phone calls. This makes conversations private between you and whoever you’re talking to. However, with this new privacy policy that would go into effect, the end-to-end encryption would disappear when messaging businesses on this app.
By allowing businesses to process your messages with them on WhatsApp, they claim that they can use what users say as data to create new advertising opportunities. However, this is causing a rift with WhatsApp users that claim this new policy would strip them of the privacy they were used to while using this app. So the main question is: is WhatsApp safe?
There is also conflicting language when talking about users’ location since WhatsApp promises its users that it doesn’t know where they are located when users share their location with friends. However, the new privacy policy states, “We collect and use precise location information from your device with your permission when you choose to use location-related features, like when you decide to share your location with your contacts or view locations nearby or locations others have shared with you.”
How is WhatsApp Responding to This Controversy?
Image Credit: WhatsApp
When this new privacy policy first came out, users were concerned as to whether or not it would affect the current policies in effect that prevent data sharing with Facebook. Users were scared that their most sensitive and private data would get shared with Facebook and possibly leaked. This caused an uproar in users since they are aware of how data leaks on Facebook.
Because of the wariness from users, WhatsApp posted a status update (their version of stories) to further explain the privacy policy to its users. They tried to explain that their customer’s chats will still be end-to-end encrypted so that their conversations remain private to themselves and their family or friends. However, they said that the only change would be that businesses might store customers’ chat logs to Facebook’s servers. WhatsApp also pushed the release date, which was supposed to be in February, to May.
Image Credit: WhatsApp
However, there’s still an uproar with users, who claim that their data could still be accessed by businesses that they message. They are questioning how much of their data is actually safe once they message a particular business. To further explain this privacy policy update, WhatsApp will include a banner within their app that explains what the update is about. The banner reassures users that their conversations are private and that they are just changing how businesses communicate with customers.
We are doing more to explain how WhatsApp continues to protect people’s privacy and I wanted to share our plans here first pic.twitter.com/ja6tqGZ3yi
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) February 18, 2021
Along with this, the head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, released the above video on his Twitter page that also explained this new Privacy Policy. He exclaims that, “The first thing, which is the most important to know, is that WhatsApp cannot read your personal messages, and we cannot hear your personal calls.” He also shows the banner that is published on WhatsApp that further explains this new policy.
Is WhatsApp Safe Even With This New Privacy Policy?
From what WhatsApp is claiming, it seems like the only data that will be shared is your conversations you have with businesses. This data will be used for advertising purposes only, and it does not seem like users’ private data will be shared. WhatsApp even stated that private conversations that are had with friends and family will not be shared with anyone and will still remain private to you and whoever you are talking to.
However, if you are at all concerned with this policy and are still on the fence about whether or not its safe, you can always be wary with what you are sending your family and friends. No matter what, this information could still be leaked through screenshots or through talking to the wrong person. No messaging app is entirely safe, and it is up to the users to limit what they share through social apps. Scammers can still lurk this app, as well as people with not-so-good intentions.
Social Catfish is Here to Help You!
At Social Catfish, we want to help you verify the identities of those who might seem suspicious to you. If you have their name, email address, phone number, social media username, or image, you can reverse search and see who the suspected person was that you’ve been in contact with if you are wondering is WhatsApp safe?
