WhatsApp confirmed in January that its updated privacy policy would go into effect on May 15. A few months after this change, the company claims it Its users may lose access to all features if they do not accept the new rules.
WhatsApp stated that those who do not accept the changes by May 15 “will not be able to read or send messages from the application,” but “will be able to receive calls and notifications for a short period of time.”
TechCrunch notes that the “short period of time” will last a few weeks, but this feature will eventually disappear as well. However, it will be possible to accept the new policy even after the deadline, of course.
In an email sent to some partners, WhatsApp also included a link to the FAQ page which outlines some details and options for those who do not wish to accept the new privacy policy. Before May 15th, you will be able to delete your account, download a report, and export your chat history.
Regarding what this new policy will entail, WhatsApp states in a blog post that “the recent terms and the updated privacy policy do not affect personal messages. The changes relate to optional work features on WhatsApp and provide additional transparency about how we collect and use user data.”
WhatsApp initially planned to implement these changes starting February 8, but after receiving numerous complaints from users, the company extended the effective date.
“We noticed a lot of confusion about the latest update. There was a lot of misinformation that caused concern, and we want to help everyone understand things better,” WhatsApp said in a post last month. By deferring the date to May, the company hopes to “give users sufficient time to review privacy changes,” as stated on the Frequently Asked Questions page.
And in order to help users understand what they accept in the new policy, WhatsApp has also detailed what is changed and what remains the same. With all the information the company has released regarding the new changes, it is best for WhatsApp users to take the time to carefully read everything.
Let’s just say this is probably not a “Terms of Service” to scroll down and accept with a little attention.
