In a recent update, WhatsApp asks users to share their data with Facebook. WhatsApp, the encrypted messaging app is famous for the privacy services it offers, but it is now pressuring users to give Facebook access to their personal data. On Wednesday, this update was sent to users with a short delay for users to accept the update and allow Facebook and its partners to obtain user data. Now everything will be shared with Facebook including user’s contact number, contact phone number, locations, chats, etc. WhatsApp has also given a deadline of February 8, if users do not accept the update, their accounts will be removed.
This sad update prompts people to uninstall their WhatsApp account and consider other smaller communication platforms like Signal and Telegram for secure communications.
According to Mike Butcher, publisher of TechCrunch tweeted that if users are concerned about the privacy of their data, then, Signal and telegram are good options to go for. He also compared WhatsApp and Telegram in terms of the data collected by these platforms.
On the other side, Elon Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla, is also among those who suggest users to try to change the services. Musk also posted a sarcastic meme and claimed that Facebook was responsible for the attack on protesters in the U.S. capital that occurred on Wednesday.
Facebook owned WhatsApp in 2014, since then it has given users a unique option to opt out of data sharing with Facebook.
In a conversation with Ars Technica, a spokesperson for WhatsApp said that thanks to this change, WhatsApp chats will be recorded using Facebook’s advanced resources. Businesses will be able to access WhatsApp chats.
The purpose of this update is still unclear. However, for users residing in the EU or UK, this update is not for them. The spokesperson said the updated terms of service and privacy policy will not affect users in the UK and the EU. To clear up the confusion, WhatsApp in the European region will not give any access to user data to Facebook, and Facebook is not allowed to use any of the data for advertisements.
Photo: Thomas Trutschel via Getty Images Read more: WhatsApp’s new update shows what it plans to introduce on the app
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