WhatsApp changes the guidelines. This confused many users – they believed that more data was being shared and switched to the competition.
Dortmund – the messenger service WhatsApp changes its rules. That happens every now and then and is actually nothing special. But in this case there is plenty in Germany confusion to the new Privacy Policyso that the rush on a competitor briefly brought him to his knees.
| application | |
| Release date | May 3, 2009 |
| owner | Facebook Inc. |
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WhatsApp update: Change in data protection guidelines – that’s it
The new adaptation in WhatsApp is intended to introduce a new function that will inform users of future innovations in a separate chat. On the other hand, the Privacy Policy adapted – and they have to be accepted, because otherwise it means: bye, bye WhatsApp. Those who do not accept will no longer be able to use the messenger service from February 8th.
Some users will see the pop-up window in the messenger service WhatsApp probably already discovered. It says: “WhatsApp updates its Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Essential Updates includes more information on the following:
- WhatsApp Service and how we process your data.
- How companies with von Facebook their hosted services WhatsApp Save and manage chats. “
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WhatsApp: Pop-up window in Messenger indicates changes
At iPhone users there is only the “Agree button” or the option to close the window at the top right. Android-User have the opportunity to agree or to postpone the decision until later. But what is that supposed to tell us?
WhatsApp changes its privacy policy – that led to confusion.
© Screenshot WhatsApp; RUHR24/Maiwald
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For more information on the adjustments, see the WhatsApp homepage to read. Accordingly, the first point is about the legal basis of Data processing and the second point is aimed at companies that use WhatsApp get in touch with their customers. In media reports, however, it all sounds a bit more dramatic (more news about digital at RUHR24.de).
WhatsApp privacy update: from dramatically dangerous to harmless
Sometimes it can be read that data is sent automatically Facebook be forwarded around advertising optimize on the platform. But while the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that users would have to consent to share their data with others with immediate effect Facebook offers to share and Marc Zuckerberg it had declared its goal to integrate the platforms of its group more closely, admits Spiegel with the complete Privacy confusion on.
Indeed there are in the revised Privacy Policy of WhatsApp the section “How it works WhatsApp with others Facebook company together”. It states that WhatsApp and other Facebook Services Exchanging information with one another is intended to promote the safety and integrity of the products. Approximately at Spam and abuse to fight.
WhatsApp forwards data to Facebook – but this must not be used
It also says: “WhatsApp also works with the others Facebook company and shares information with them so they can help us operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support and market our services. ”But this section has a clear one Restriction.
“None of the information that WhatsApp on this basis, may for their own purposes Facebook company used. ”How Spiegel declares, receives Facebook certainly data from WhatsApp (such as phone numbers and device IDs), but it should not be used to improve the Display system be used.
Facebook is not allowed to use WhatsApp data to improve products – at least in Europe
Compared to the Spiegel share that Companies with that there are no changes to the practices of the Data transfer of WhatsApp in the European region (including Great Britain). The WhatsApp spokesperson emphasizes: “It is still the case that WhatsApp none WhatsApp user data from the European region with Facebook shares, with it Facebook can use this data to improve its products or advertisements. “
2/5 It has been incorrectly reported that WhatsApp’s latest Terms of Service and Privacy Policy update requires users in the European Region to agree to the sharing of data with Facebook for ads purposes in order to continue using the service. This is false.
— Niamh Sweeney (@NiamhSweeneyNYC) January 7, 2021
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What the Data transfer Regarding, stay in Europe So basically everything is the same as before. So how did the confusion come about? According to Spiegel this can probably be attributed to the fact that the WhatsApp messenger, which has recently introduced a new function, also publishes an updated data protection guideline for users on its homepage outside the European region. Since this section is also presented in German, there are some Users probably assumed that it would also apply in Germany. That’s not the case.
Video: WhatsApp will soon no longer be available on older phones?
After calling Elon Musk: Countless users switch to WhatsApp competitors
The new rules that are explained there go much further than those intended to apply to the European area. It says, for example: “We can use the information we have received from you and you can use the information we share with you to use our services or your offers, including the products of Facebook company, operate, provide, improve, understand, individualize, support and market.“
It will probably have been this section too, the thousands WhatsApp users has caused them to turn away from the messenger service and indulge in the competition. Including the Tesla-Chef Elon Musk. After the new guidelines were announced, he tweeted briefly: “Use Signal“. With this, he calls on his followers to use the messenger service Signal to use
Use Signal
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021
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Dem Tweet with 200,000 likes, quite a few users followed, because shortly afterwards the big rush forced the WhatsApp-Alternative Signal this in the knees. A new registration at Messengerdienst Signal was no longer possible for a while. The bug could be loud Hot have now been remedied. How many users from the European room the messenger service due to the modification have changed is not yet known.
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