According to new WhatsApp privacy policy 2021, existing users have time until 08 February 2021, to accept the company’s new privacy terms, WhatsApp (update 2021) meanwhile has reiterated that all messages are end-to-end encrypted.
As per new policy
WhatsApp will collect and share
- User activity.
- How often the user uses WhatsApp.
- Features.
- User’s Profile photo.
- Status.
- About’ information.
WhatsApp Privacy Policy 2021-Key Points
- The new privacy policy comes into force from February 8, 2021.
- Whatsapp can collect and share users activity, how often they use WhatsApp, features they use, their profile photo, status and ‘about’ information.
- However, WhatsApp does keep logs of who everyone is messaging or calling.
- WhatsApp can share user’s information with businesses and third-party service providers.
- In addition, Facebook and its other products could also use user’s information.
However, WhatsApp has reiterated that:
- All messages are still end-to-end encrypted. This means that neither WhatsApp, not third parties will access or read user’s messages.
- WhatsApp cannot see your shared location and neither can Facebook.
- WhatsApp does not share your contacts with Facebook.
- Also, WhatsApp doesn’t store user’s messages once they’ve been delivered. It deletes messages from its servers, once they are delivered.
- WhatsApp does not allow third-party ads on its services. “We have no intention to introduce them, but if we ever do, we will update this Privacy Policy,” it says.
What choice do users have?
For users who have already accepted the new terms and conditions, but do not want WhatsApp to share data with Facebook, or other businesses, they will be given an additional 30 days to opt-out and delete their account.
If you delete your WhatsApp account?
- If you delete your account, WhatsApp deletes your undelivered messages from its servers along with any of your other information.
- However, users must assure that they not only uninstall WhatsApp but must delete their account from WhatsApp. This can be done by going to settings > Account and selecting ‘Delete my account’.
What about ads?
- WhatsApp does not allow third-party ads on its services. “We have no intention to introduce advertisements, but if we ever do, we will update this Privacy Policy,” it says.
- However, WhatsApp can use the information it has, to communicate to users about its services and market its services and those of other Facebook companies.
What about WhatsApp business app?
- While chats between users and a Business are end-to-end encrypted, WhatsApp says that once the message is received, it will be subject to the business’s own privacy practices.
- In addition, Some businesses will be able to choose WhatsApp’s parent company, Facebook, to securely store messages and respond to customers.
Also, Facebook will not automatically use user’s messages to inform the ads that they see, businesses will be able to use chats they receive for their own marketing purposes, which may include advertising on Facebook.
In addition, Users can always contact that business to learn more about its privacy practices,” WhatsApp says. (Details)
What Personal Data WhatsApp collects? (2021 update)
The promising start of the sincere WhatsApp Privacy policy 2019, has been deleted in new 2021 update. However, WhatsApp still can’t read your chat because its end to end encrypted. In addition, WhatsApp knows, what phone you are using, your phone model, the network you are using, battery status, signal strength, Time zone, Ip address, WhatsApp usage.
The company also has access to your payment details, your transactions, status updates, group details, profile picture and about info.
WhatsApp: The Facebook company
As a part of the new WhatsApp update 2021, WhatsApp will share all of your data with Facebook as well as other Facebook companies like Instagram.
For instance, when you share a new link on WhatsApp about a new phone you want to buy. WhatsApp and Facebook take this info to use it for ads and other services.
Summary (WhatsApp Privacy Policy 2021)
In conclusion, WhatsApp is no longer a privacy-focused company.
Facebook will be using all of your WhatsApp data from February 8, 2021.
In other words, Facebook has now complete access to your WhatsApp data, unlike in the past when you had an option to not to share your data with Facebook.
Also, WhatsApp can share the user’s information with businesses and third-party service providers.
Author
This article is written by Umair Javed on January 10, 2020.
Umair has been working at Whatsinsight since 2020 as a content writer.