On January 4, 2021, WhatsApp announced that it would be making significant changes to its user agreement. These changes, which are set to take effect on February 8, 2021, have caused concern among many WhatsApp users, who fear that their privacy is at risk.
The main change to the user agreement involves WhatsApp`s relationship with Facebook, which acquired WhatsApp in 2014. Under the new agreement, WhatsApp will share certain user data with Facebook, including phone numbers, transaction data, and information about how users interact with other users and businesses on the platform. This information will be used to improve Facebook`s advertising and marketing efforts.
While some users are worried that this change will result in them receiving more targeted ads on Facebook, the bigger concern is that their personal information will be shared with a company that has a long history of mishandling user data. Facebook has faced multiple scandals over the years, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018, in which the personal data of millions of Facebook users was harvested without their consent.
To address these concerns, WhatsApp has emphasized that the new user agreement will not affect the privacy of users` personal messages. WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to protect the content of messages, which means that only the sender and recipient can read them. WhatsApp also notes that it does not keep logs of who users are messaging or calling, and that it does not share users` “status updates” with Facebook.
However, many critics argue that this reassurance is not enough, and that WhatsApp users should be wary of the new user agreement. Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor turned privacy advocate, criticized the change on Twitter, saying: “No, this is not just about WhatsApp. This is about your right to privacy – period. You lose it here, you lose it everywhere.”
So what should WhatsApp users do if they are concerned about the new user agreement? One option is to switch to a different messaging platform that prioritizes privacy, such as Signal or Telegram. These platforms also use end-to-end encryption to protect users` messages, and they do not share data with third-party companies.
Another option is to adjust your privacy settings on WhatsApp. Users can choose to limit the amount of data that WhatsApp shares with Facebook by going to “Settings” > “Account” > “Share my account info” and turning off the toggle switch.
In conclusion, the upcoming changes to WhatsApp`s user agreement are a cause for concern for many users. While WhatsApp insists that the changes will not affect the privacy of personal messages, critics argue that users should be cautious about sharing any data with Facebook. Ultimately, the best way to protect your privacy is to use a messaging platform that prioritizes privacy, or to adjust your privacy settings on WhatsApp to limit data sharing.
