Whatsapp and its upgraded privacy policy have created a global concern and privacy issues. This agitation is spreading worldwide just like coronavirus pandemic hence, making it an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.

Recently, the upgraded privacy policy, which is to be implemented from 8 February 2021, raised many questions and allegations against whatsapp, bashing it for harassing and breaking cyber privacy policy, resulting in the loss of a large part of users overnight.

What is whatsapp?

Whatsapp has more than 200 Billion active monthly users and generating a venue greater than $2000 billion. Initially, it operated as a solo organization. But after its merger with Facebook in 2014 made it one of the Facebook-owned platforms.

It is not only used for personal messaging but due to its easy access and not so technical using method, many businesses, as well as educational conferences, are being switched to this app recently making it one of the top 3 downloaded apps in the world.

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Privacy policy:

Whatsapp has made it clear in their privacy policy to keep the personal information of the users safe and locked through its end-to-end encryption policy but recent changes which are being questioned says that Facebook can have access to privileged private information of the user. This misconception needs to be cleared with people as they are causing all these problems.

The truth is that whatsapp still maintains this policy and does not indulge with or save and leak any private information. The main reason for this policy was to make businesses easier and to provide them with better opportunities through Facebook Ads. 

Whatsapp use was increasing for the handling of business-related matters day by day. It was simply the sharing of metadata of the user with Facebook to make buying and sales more feasible. 

“We want to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. The changes are related to optional business features on WhatsApp, and provide further transparency about how we collect and use data.”

-says Whatsapp in their recent Q and A session on Tuesday.

Shared Data:

Due to constantly arising concerns and rumors Whatsapp made this clear in their recent FAQs and privacy policy the data which it will be sharing with the Facebook which includes the following along with the potential benefits that it can bring 

  • The moderation of *Business Chats* to optimize the commerce features of Facebook. This will make it easier for Facebook to bring up more personalized ads related to the user’s niche and category.
  • It will also make this easier for whatsapp users to share their purchasing receipts and other business-related information.
  • This policy allows the users to make their own ads to market and expand their business.
  • Get better recommendations to grow their businesses by getting to know more potential clients.

In light of the above facts, we can say that this policy feature can help the business to grow rather than producing privacy breaches.

Protected Data:

For those people who still think it is privacy harassment, whatsapp very clearly set up explicit proof to protect their private data like

  • Personal chats 
  • Group messages
  • Calls to friends, family, co-workers and all
  • Location
  • Contacts
  • User number
  • Shared data like pictures, documents, videos, links

All this information is still end-to-end encrypted. No third party, including whatsapp headquarters, can have this information. So no worry their pals! Chills out!

Along with these, whatsapp also gives you the facility to set disappearing messages which will disappear after 7 days. One of another astonishing feature of whatsapp.

To give a trusted bond to their users, whatsapp also allows their users to download their own shared data with the app to counter-check as many times as they want to due to their privacy. 

Current circumstances:

Due to a lack of communication and understanding, the true impact of the policy was lost. It was lost along with the foreseeing of the upcoming potential benefits to various businesses all over the world. 

Many leading businessmen, as well as corporate workers, left this platform. And they joined other messaging apps like Telegram and Signals, which provide 100% user privacy security, to protect their data. This overnight loss of users might have resulted in a greater loss for this leading app.

Whatsapp came under further pressure when cyber securities, advocates, and agencies portrayed this entire privacy breach as an alarming threat. So to counter that, whatsapp further explained their policies to prevent the rise of false suspicions this Tuesday.

It highlighted the importance of marketing strategies through Facebook ads and potentiated the increase in online shopping just like Etsy and eBay.

Conclusion:

Just like any competitor, Facebook had worked to upgrade its features to make socializing more interconnected with all its domains: whatsapp, Instagram, and messenger. As Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook said many times

“By giving people the power to share, we are making the world more transparent”