(Reuters) – Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp said on Thursday it would continue to discuss the controversial privacy policy, but users would be able to read it at their own pace and also display a banner with additional information.
In January, the messaging platform notified users that they were preparing a new privacy policy, under which it could share limited user data with Facebook and its group businesses.
It sparked a worldwide outcry and sent users to competing apps Telegram and Signal, among others, which asked WhatsApp to postpone the launch of the new policy until May and to make the update clear, aimed at giving users a allow message to businesses and that it does not affect personal conversations.
In India, the largest user base of the messaging app, Facebook executives asked a parliamentary panel questions about the need for the changes, days after the country’s technology ministry asked the messaging platform to withdraw them.
In its latest blog bit.ly/3ufc9Eq, WhatsApp said it will start reminding users to review and accept updates to continue using the messaging platform.
“We have also included more information to address issues we are hearing,” he said.
WhatsApp’s announcement comes as Facebook’s parent on Thursday wants to block all news content in Australia, while the outbreak and politicians face the setback, prompting a senior British lawmaker to label the move as an attempt to to bully democracy.
Reporting by Shubham Kalia and Anuron Kumar Mitra in Bengaluru; Edited by Krishna Chandra Eluri