WhatsApp Updates Its 'Privacy' Rules

Uploaded on 2021-01-18 in TECHNOLOGY-Key Areas-Social Media, FREE TO VIEW, BUSINESS-Services-Law

The widely used messaging platform WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook and has more than 2 billion users, has in a surprise move, updated its privacy policy. Users are receiving this notice via a pop-up alert in the app, narrowing down on the new set of policies that are in place. This has stirred a huge debate about Facebook’s promise of privacy and keeping the user interest at stake.

WhatsApp has always said it has a commitment to security and privacy, with encrypted conversations and other important technologies integrated into the app.

But the new announcement has sparked fears of the exact opposite: that people’s information is not being kept secret. This means that users will need to agree to new terms with Facebook if they want to continue using the service after 8 February.

The really significant recent update is that WhatsApp has added new features to allow people to communicate with businesses and those businesses could be hosted by Facebook. When speaking to those contacts, messages might be stored and managed by Facebook and  those conversations could then be shared with the company more generally. 

The new agreement states: "As part of the Facebook family of companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, this family of companies... We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customise, support, and market our services and their offerings," it continued.

WhatsApp users within the European region, including the UK, are receiving a separate private policy to those elsewhere in the world, since what Facebook is attempting is illegal in the EU and the UK under their GDPR data privacy rules. 

  • WhatsApp say the move is part of the company introducing new payment capabilities to the app so that people can make purchases from businesses using it. 
  • The updated policy also says that WhatsApp may send you marketing material about Facebook companies.
  • The firm will use your data collected from the app and other Facebook services for content suggestions, people recommendations, and ads along with service improvements.

Speaking at the company's developer conference in 2019, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg said he believed "it should be as easy to send money to someone as it is to send a photo". Facebook has also said that Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp are being brought together. It said Facebook Pay would "be a seamless and secure way to make payments on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp".

Industry commentators say that Facebook has long sought to replicate the success of Chinese instant messaging app WeChat's mobile payments system. 

WeChat Pay is a popular method for cashless transactions in China and is often used in physical stores as well as online - something which has made it one of the most dominant technology companies in the country.The update will make it easier for people to make purchases and get help from businesses on the messaging platform, a company spokesperson said.

Sky:      NextWeb:       SlashGear:     Economic Times:     Independent: 

You Might Also Read:

Coming Soon: Regulation Of Social Media:

 

« Social Media Is Being Used To Turn Truth Upside Down
Video Gamers Are In The Target Area »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81
Cyrin

Real Attacks. Real Tools. Real Scenarios.
Schedule a demo

Go Cyber

Training that transforms behaviours

Sign Up: Cyber Security Intelligence Newsletter

Directory of Suppliers

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRealis is a market-leading design, engineering and project management consultancy operating in fields ranging from infrastructure, through energy and transport to cybersecurity.

ReadWrite

ReadWrite

ReadWrite is a leading media platform dedicated to IoT and the Connected World.

MailGuard

MailGuard

MailGuard delivers a full suite of security solutions across email and web to protect your business before threats reach your environment.

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D)

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D)

Giesecke+Devrient develop security technologies in four major areas: enabling secure payment, providing trusted connectivity, safeguarding identities and protecting digital infrastructures.

Nexthink

Nexthink

Using our solution, hundreds of IT departments effectively balance offering a productive and enjoyable end-user experience with making the right decisions to secure and transform the digital workplace

sayTEC

sayTEC

sayTEC's mission is to develop and deliver next-generation products and services in encrypted data and voice transmission.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Red4Sec

Red4Sec

Red4Sec are experts in ethical hacking, audits of web and mobile applications, code audits, cryptocurrency audits, perimeter security and incident response.

Baker Donelson

Baker Donelson

Baker Donelson is a law firm with a team of more than 700 attorneys and advisors representing more than 30 practice areas including Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity.

Cohesity

Cohesity

Cohesity radically simplifies the way businesses back up, manage, protect, and extract value from their data—in the data center, at the edge, and in the cloud.

INVISUS

INVISUS

INVISUS protects businesses against the latest cyber risks – including business and employee identity theft, data breaches, and cybersecurity compliance.

Althammer & Kill

Althammer & Kill

Althammer & Kill offers pragmatic solution concepts for data protection and digitization. We advise in the field of data protection, information security and compliance.

Semgrep

Semgrep

Semgrep is a fast, open-source, static analysis tool for profoundly improving software security and reliability.

CYBRI

CYBRI

CYBRI is a cybersecurity company helping businesses detect and remediate mission-critical vulnerabilities before they get exploited by hackers.

Insane Cyber

Insane Cyber

Insane Cyber make cybersecurity easier to manage through automated, easy-to-use software and expert support and partnership.

TENEX

TENEX

TENEX is a cybersecurity company leveraging advanced artificial intelligence and human expertise to transform enterprise security.