A lot stuff is happening in and around WhatsApp in the country these days. The messaging platform recently updated its privacy policy, terms and services which users should update before February 8, 2021. The deadline has now been extended to May 15 2021. After hundreds and thousands of users questioned the privacy policy as it revealed details of user data WhatsApp shares with Facebook.
It seems like people are not happy with the policy. After getting numerous complaints and petitions filed by users on the latest privacy policy the Indian government issued an official letter to WhatsApp CEO ‘WillCathcart’ stating that the new privacy policy “raises large concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens”. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Also asked WhatsApp to withdraw the changes and reconsider its approach to information privacy.
It seems like WhatsApp is pretty confident and it has defended its policy. Its main aim is to provide transparency and new options will be made available to engage with the business so that they can serve their customers and grow. They wish to reinforce that this update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook.
But still, the main question remains a mystery, is WhatsApp safe and what does this new privacy policy mean to us?
WhatsApp has a whopping 400 million users in India and it will ensure that such a large base is not affected. It has made efforts to ensure privacy for its customers moreover, WhatsApp has officially given a statement, it will always protect personal messages with end-to-end encryption so that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see them. We are working to address misinformation and remain available to answer any questions,”
And there is clear clarification given by WhatsApp that there’s a difference between “messages with friends or family” and “messages with a business” . This new policy is mainly focused for business accounts while the policy for personal chats remains unchanged.
From time-to-time WhatsApp has clarified that all chats happening on the platform are end-to-end encrypted. In other words, neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see “your private messages or hear your calls”. WhatsApp has also revealed that it can’t see who are messaging or calling and nor can it see a location of user which we have shared with another user. The platform also said that it doesn’t share user’s contacts with Facebook or any other application. Moreover, no data from groups will be shared with parent company Facebook for ad purposes. In simple terms Nothing has really changed for you in terms of individual and group chats
Finally, Should You move to Signal or Telegram ?
You can do more confidential conversation in signal or Telegram if you want more privacy. But I think that shouldn’t be a problem, however, after the release of privacy policy many users have shifted to Signal the transfer of users is so high that Signal has now become the top free app on Google Play Store as well as Apple App Store.
