New privacy policy sparks fear among WhatsApp users
JOBURG – Whatsapp is used daily by over two billion people in more than 180 countries.
Popular messaging service WhatsApp has been the topic of discussion over the weekend, spreading fear among users with its new terms of use agreement.
In a surprise move, the agreement will see the messaging app share all of its user data with parent company Facebook, which also owns Messenger and Instagram.
WhatsApp said that these changes will officially come into effect from 8 February.
In order to continue using the messaging service, users must agree to the new terms.
“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, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings,” stated the new privacy policy.
When Facebook purchased WhatsApp for $19-billion in 2014 it vowed user privacy protection as the messaging app had long prided itself on the security and privacy of its users with encrypting conversation and third-party app integrations.
The new terms of use have however led to concerns and fears by users that their data might not be protected as Facebook had previous faced a number of allegations with regards to user data.
In 2019 the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reportedly approved a $5-billion settlement with Facebook over an investigation into the company’s handling of user data belonging to 87 million users.
According to social media management platform Hootsuite, WhatsApp is used daily by over two billion people in more than 180 countries.
