WhatsApp postpones data-sharing changes as users move out
New Delhi : WhatsApp on Friday postponed a data-sharing change after receiving backlash from the market with many users shifting to its rival companies like Telegram and Signal over data concerns.
The company cancelled its February 8 deadline to accept its new update about accepting new privacy policies over data sharing. The company said that they will go for it after clearing the misinformation around privacy and security.
"We've heard from so many people how much confusion there is around our recent update," WhatsApp said in a blog post.
"This update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook."
It said it would instead "go-to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15."
The new update was mainly meant for merchants using WhatsApp chat with customers to understand the market demand and provide personalized ads on Facebook.
"We can't see your private messages or hear your calls, and neither can Facebook," WhatsApp said in an earlier blog post.
"We don't keep logs of who everyone is messaging or calling. We can't see your shared location and neither can Facebook."
Location data along with message contents is encrypted end-to-end, according to WhatsApp.
"We're giving businesses the option to use secure hosting services from Facebook to manage WhatsApp chats with their customers, answer questions, and send helpful information like purchase receipts," WhatsApp said in a post.
"Whether you communicate with a business by phone, email, or WhatsApp, it can see what you're saying and may use that information for its own marketing purposes, which may include advertising on Facebook."
